Costly Legacy of the Recession: Employers Risk Mass Exodus of Neglected Staff
A recent survey of the nation’s employees carried out by healthcare provider Simplyhealth has revealed that one in two UK staff say their mental and physical wellbeing was ignored by their employer during the economic downturn.
A similar number – over 45% – also say that they will start looking for a new job now that the market is showing signs of recovery.
This may come as a surprise to most employers, as those surveyed as part of Simplyhealth’s Bothered Britain report showed that although the majority (52%) agree that they have been too focused on surviving the recession to worry about employee wellbeing, three-quarters (75%) of those questioned did not expect their workforce to be looking for employment elsewhere.
It seems that businesses may face an uphill struggle to retain staff this year as the job market recovers, unless changes are made in their
approach to workers’ wellbeing. Almost half (47%) of the employers surveyed said that the threat of job losses has led to stress for their staff, and a third (33%) agree that the development of a ‘work all hours’ culture has had a further impact of the health of the nation’s workforce.
Medical expert Dr Christian Jessen, says: “The recession has been a difficult time for employers and employees alike and may well have led
to increased incidents of workplace stress. Even short periods of stress can have effects on your wellbeing, with many associated health problems. Employees who feel valued and looked after are far more likely to stay in their jobs and to work harder, leading to a healthier, happier workplace.”
Jamie Wilson, spokesperson for Simplyhealth, says: “Businesses have understandably been under a considerable strain over the past months,
but it is clear from our research that employee wellbeing needs to be high on the agenda for employers, especially now that we are out of a recession. Employers can show that they are bothered about their staff in a variety of ways, including making efforts to ensure regular communication, providing benefits, such as healthcare and trying to ensure a positive, enjoyable atmosphere in the workplace. Small steps such as these can have a big impact on an employee’s overall health and wellbeing, and help to ensure key talent is retained.”
———————————————————————————————————-
Preparing for the Upturn – Hear from leading retailers at the Retail HR Summit 2010
Senior HR personnel from Morrisons, Best Buy, Co-op, Carphone Warehouse, Clinton Cards, Pets at Home, Punch Taverns and Dell will share valuable insights at the 3rd Retail HR & Work Force Management Summit 2010 – For more information click here.
