
A worrying picture: Italy at the bottom of the list
Italy ranks last in Europe for job satisfaction according to the European Workforce Study 2025 by Great Place to Work, based on the opinions of nearly 25,000 employees from 19 European countries. Only 43% of Italian workersconsider their company a great place to work, a figure significantly lower than the European average of 59%. In contrast, countries like Denmark (75%), Norway (73%), and Sweden (68%) show much higher levels of satisfaction.
Among industries, technology (65%), finance (63%), and professional services (62%) lead in employee satisfaction, while Italy, Greece, Poland, France, and Portugal close the ranking with a 15-point gap compared to the most successful nations.
Key factors influencing job satisfaction
The study highlights five main factors driving European employee satisfaction:
- Respect: feeling valued and treated with dignity.
- Work-life balance: increasingly vital for workers.
- Psychological safety: a stress-free workplace.
- Consistent leadership: reliable and capable managers.
- Fair compensation: salaries perceived as adequate.
In Italy, the biggest issue is the lack of trust in managers: less than half of employees believe their leaders are credible and competent. This trust gap negatively impacts productivity and employee retention.
Leadership and its impact
One of the study’s key focuses is leadership quality, a critical element for employee well-being and organizational productivity. The trust-based leadership model includes three core components:
- Credibility of management.
- Fairness in employee treatment.
- Mutual respect.
In Italy, only 44% of employees trust their managers, significantly lower than the European average of 55%. Scandinavian countries, such as Denmark and Norway, exceed 60%, fostering a more serene and productive work environment.
Proximity leadership: a crucial skill
Proximity leadership – characterized by empathy, curiosity, and authenticity – is another essential factor for improving job satisfaction. Unfortunately, only 42% of Italian business leaders exhibit these skills, compared to 61% in Denmark and 60% in Switzerland. This deficit undermines not only employee well-being but also motivation and engagement.
The cost of dissatisfaction
Italian employee dissatisfaction directly impacts business productivity. The lack of engagement and trust in managers leads to significant financial losses, making companies less competitive than those that value their workforce.
“It’s not just about purchasing power,” says Beniamino Bedusa, president of Great Place to Work Italy. “Low workplace serenity and the perception of distant leaders push Italian workers to seek new opportunities more frequently than in other European countries.”
Final thoughts: a call for change
To bridge the gap with more successful countries, Italian companies must invest in a trust-based corporate cultureand train leaders capable of inspiring their teams. Respect, consistency, and fair compensation are crucial to improving employee well-being and, consequently, organizational competitiveness.
What’s your take on these findings? Does your workplace reflect this reality? Share your thoughts in the comments below!