A picture of the UK's workplace health
Britain's Healthiest Workplace gives us a deep insight into the health and wellbeing of employees across the UK. We have data from hundreds of organisations and thousands of employees. All that data paints a picture of the UK’s workplace health. Here’s what the latest results from the survey tell us.Businesses are losing thousands of hours
Productivity has been dropping steadily since 2014, with businesses losing over a month each year per employee. Usually this is because your employees are at work but not actually being productive:
• Employees lost 14.6% of working hours
• This represents a loss of 38 productive days per employee, per year
• This is worse with lower income and younger workers
• But engagement levels are increasing year on year.
• Employees lost 14.6% of working hours
• This represents a loss of 38 productive days per employee, per year
• This is worse with lower income and younger workers
• But engagement levels are increasing year on year.
Financial worries are taking their toll
Employees are struggling with work-related stress and worries about money:
• 16.4% of employees earning less than £20,000 suffer from depression
• For the £20,000 to £30,000 income category, the risk remains high at 10.4%
• 56.4% suffer from work-related stress
• 35.1% felt unwell because of work-related stress
• Financial concerns are very common, with 51.1% of employees reporting it
• Employees who have financial concerns are half as productive as others
• They also have unhealthier lifestyles, such as binge drinking and bad diet.
• 16.4% of employees earning less than £20,000 suffer from depression
• For the £20,000 to £30,000 income category, the risk remains high at 10.4%
• 56.4% suffer from work-related stress
• 35.1% felt unwell because of work-related stress
• Financial concerns are very common, with 51.1% of employees reporting it
• Employees who have financial concerns are half as productive as others
• They also have unhealthier lifestyles, such as binge drinking and bad diet.
People aren’t getting enough sleep or vegetables
Productivity and health are suffering because employees are not getting enough sleep. This is often because of underlying health conditions:
• 35.1% of employees say that they sleep less than seven hours per night
• 42% have problems with the quality of their sleep
• More than half suffer from two or more musculoskeletal conditions, like a bad back.
Younger employees are at risk again, with less sleep and worse diets. They are:
• Sleeping less hours a night then older colleagues
• More likely to report problems with the quality of their sleep
• Less likely to eat the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day
• More likely to binge drink and/or smoke.
• 35.1% of employees say that they sleep less than seven hours per night
• 42% have problems with the quality of their sleep
• More than half suffer from two or more musculoskeletal conditions, like a bad back.
Younger employees are at risk again, with less sleep and worse diets. They are:
• Sleeping less hours a night then older colleagues
• More likely to report problems with the quality of their sleep
• Less likely to eat the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day
• More likely to binge drink and/or smoke.
Women are struggling more than men
Although women tend to be much more engaged with their jobs, they are:
• Less likely to exercise enough
• More likely to suffer from depression.
But on a positive note, women have healthier diets, drink less and smoke less than men.
• Less likely to exercise enough
• More likely to suffer from depression.
But on a positive note, women have healthier diets, drink less and smoke less than men.
Employees don’t know what support is available
Lots of organisations who take part in Britain’s Healthiest Workplace offer health interventions. But many people don’t know about them.
• Small organisations offer 25 health interventions
• Medium and large organisations offer 30 health interventions
• Only 28% of employees know about the support available
• Employees say their health improves when they use them
• Support includes programmes to help staff stay active and eat well.
• Small organisations offer 25 health interventions
• Medium and large organisations offer 30 health interventions
• Only 28% of employees know about the support available
• Employees say their health improves when they use them
• Support includes programmes to help staff stay active and eat well.
Read the full 2019 report from the Financial Times.
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