Wellbeing Workplace Struggles - the latest from Bodet
New report from UK’s largest independent provider of consultancy services suggests there is still much more to do to motivate the workforce
The report from Barnett Waddingham analyses six key areas of wellbeing in the workplace, looking at establishing the state of Eudaimonia, or ‘human flourishing’. These include job role, financial security, health, protection, support and the work/life balance.
933 people were surveyed in ‘Why BWell’, across a range of ages and earning categories.
When considering happiness at work, nine out of ten respondents agreed that a happier workplace is more productive, and 64% rate their happiness as very happy or happy. However, only 18% say they are flourishing at work, with two thirds admitting they are coasting or struggling with their workload.
Almost 80% say they have either moderate or low wellbeing. Last year this figure was 58%, so unfortunately it looks like wellness is moving in the wrong direction. One in three respondents say they do not feel their overall wellbeing is important to their employer. Last year this figure was only 17%. Around a third agree that their job is negatively affecting their mental health, and 20% say they don’t feel supported if they’re absence from work for genuine health reasons.
One of the most shocking revelations in the report is that 25% say they cannot see themselves working for the same company in five years’ time. In the 18-29 age group, this rises further to 35%. This is a sobering statistic considering the investment in both time and money for staff training, and the loss of company knowledge when they leave. In positive news, 64% say they understand their company’s business strategy, suggesting that communication is a strong point within organisations surveyed.
When it comes to the work/life balance, 89% state that it is important to them to maintain. Of those with access to flexible working practises, 47% have flexible working hours, 25% the ability to work from home and 18% the opportunity to buy additional holiday. However, 40% have no access to any flexible working practices available at all. This is surprising, considering the government’s emphasis on employer’s offering flexible working, and workers’ legal rights to request it.
Perhaps the most worrying aspect of the report is the disparity between how employers perceive the wellbeing levels of their staff, and how staff themselves describe them. 40% of employers state wellbeing levels are high or very high, whilst just 18% of employees agree. The same is true on the other end of the spectrum, with just 15% of employers rating staff wellbeing at low or very low, whereas 25% of employees put their wellbeing in that bracket.
Bodet’s Time & Attendance Solutions can assist with staff wellbeing through the Absence Management Software Module, allowing you to monitor KPIs, such as the Bradford Factor. This gives you the ability to identify absence patterns linked to causes such as stress, and support staff before long-term absence occurs. It also allows you to offer a range of flexible working practices, such as annualised hours or flexi-time, without putting any additional strain on HR administration, whilst maintaining full staff visibility.
If you’d like a free demonstration to see how our Time & Attendance Systems can be tailored to support your organisation's Wellbeing Strategy, please contact us.
