MARCH 2022 RESEARCH REPORT
“Work needs to stay in its place.”
How the pandemic has changed tech and design workers’ career mindsets and motivations—and what companies and managers need to know and do.
About the report
In February 2022, we launched a qualitative survey to our network of tech and design workers. The questions we asked focused on how the last two years have shifted their relationship to work, their definition of success, and their goals for the future.
This report is the result of that survey.
It’s based on 236 responses from people primarily in design/UX, engineering, content, and product roles.
What we found
People are disentangling their identities from their careers, treating their jobs in a more transactional way, and declaring that they won’t put up with poor treatment anymore.
They’re more motivated by positive relationships with colleagues than by passion for their companies. They’re forgoing climbing the ladder in favor of healing, finding joy, and being a better parent or partner.
Boundaries are in, striving is out, and dreams of four-day weeks and retiring early are everywhere.
The bottom line: they want work to stay in its place.
What respondents said
“I am working to disentangle my identity from my professional performance and hold stronger boundaries.”
—Product manager
“My main goal is to find a role which will let me work a four-day week without taking a major pay cut.”
—Senior data scientist
“I won't tolerate harmful, oppressive, toxic environments. I don't have to.”
—Senior content designer
“If I chase more money, I want it to be in service of retiring earlier. I want to work less and live more.”
—Product manager
Request the full report
Sign up and we’ll send you the in-depth report, including:
- Insights on how tech and design workers’ mindsets, motivations, needs, and boundaries have changed
- Recommendations for companies and managers
- Detailed methodology and statistics about our respondents’ identities, roles, and organizations
You’ll also receive our newsletter—featuring essays on leadership, tools for personal growth, and updates on new workshops and courses (1-3 emails per month).