Survey: Indonesian Workers Reject Pay Rise Over Toxic Workplace

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - A recent survey by JobStreet by SEEK shows that the majority of workers remain unwilling to work in a toxic environment, even if offered a higher salary. Managing Director of JobStreet by SEEK Indonesia, Wisnu Dharmawan, stated that while Indonesian workers are willing to make certain sacrifices for greater income, not everything can be traded for a pay rise. “Workers in Indonesia are willing to work extra hours or even relocate to another city for a salary increase. But that does not mean they are willing to sacrifice everything for money,” Wisnu said during the Salary Pulse 2026 presentation at the JobStreet Jakarta office on Tuesday (23/6/2026). In the Salary Pulse 2026 report, only 3% of Indonesian workers admitted they would be willing to work in a company with a toxic culture in exchange for a 10% salary increase. This figure is the lowest compared to other forms of compromise offered. Conversely, Indonesian workers are more willing to sacrifice time and comfort for additional income. As many as 29% of respondents said they would accept work calls outside of working hours or be on call, while another 29% were willing to relocate to another city or country for a 10% pay rise. However, when it comes to personal values and workplace culture, the majority of workers choose not to compromise. Only 6% of respondents are willing to work for a company that does not align with their personal values. Meanwhile, only 10% would accept a job they felt was less meaningful or did not provide personal satisfaction. Wisnu Dharmawan assessed that these findings indicate Indonesian workers are not solely pursuing higher salaries, but also considering the quality of the work environment they experience daily. The report also found that salary satisfaction has a direct impact on employee motivation and loyalty. “Workers who are satisfied with their salary are 1.7 times more motivated to put in extra effort at work compared to those who are dissatisfied. Conversely, dissatisfied workers are 2.2 times more likely to consider looking for a new job,” Wisnu explained. The Salary Pulse 2026 report also revealed that the majority of Indonesian workers feel their current salary is fair for their position. A total of 81% of respondents said they are paid fairly, making Indonesia one of the countries with the highest perception of pay fairness in the Asia Pacific region. Despite this, overall salary satisfaction remains lower, with only 66% of workers reporting they are satisfied with the amount they receive. Wisnu noted that this gap shows workers not only want a salary that meets market standards but also wish to feel more meaningfully valued for their contributions at work. “The difference between feeling ‘fairly paid’ and ‘satisfied’ is also influenced by various factors, ranging from the cost of living, family needs, to personal financial targets,” he said. The Salary Pulse 2026 survey was conducted among 1,010 Indonesian workers aged 18 to 64 in February 2026.