Template · Big picture
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs at work
The psychologist Abraham Maslow suggested that people are driven by needs at different levels, from the basics up to growth. Applied to work, it’s a quick way to spot what’s missing and where to focus first.
To keep a copy, print it or choose “Save as PDF” in your browser’s print dialog.
The worksheet
How to use it
- Read each level from the bottom up, and score how well your work meets it today (1 = not at all, 5 = fully).
- Note what’s already in place, then one small step that would help.
- Finish with the level that needs attention first.
Fill it in here or on paper. Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere: it stays in this browser tab and disappears when you close it, so print or save it as a PDF to keep a copy.
- Growth and purposeMaslow: self-actualisation
- RecognitionMaslow: esteem
- BelongingMaslow: love and belonging
- SecurityMaslow: safety
- The basicsMaslow: physiological needs
Based on the hierarchy of needs described by Abraham Maslow in “A Theory of Human Motivation”, Psychological Review, 1943. The workplace wording is our own.
Use it as a reflection tool rather than a proven, rigid model: later research hasn’t supported a strict ladder, and most people work on several levels at once.
Level 1 · Maslow: physiological needs
The basics
At work: Pay you can live on, workable hours, enough rest, and a working environment that doesn’t wear you down.
Level 2 · Maslow: safety
Security
At work: A stable role, clear expectations, fair processes, and feeling safe to raise a concern or admit a mistake.
Level 3 · Maslow: love and belonging
Belonging
At work: Being part of the team, having people you trust, and being included rather than left out of the conversation.
Level 4 · Maslow: esteem
Recognition
At work: Respect, credit for your work, being seen by the people who matter, and progress that reflects what you deliver.
Level 5 · Maslow: self-actualisation
Growth and purpose
At work: Using your strengths fully, still learning, and doing work that feels worthwhile and like you.
Looking at all five
© 2026 The Boardroom Edit. Free to use for your own career planning. Career coaching by Jerome Stevens.