Millions left dissatisfied by their work

Sep 8 2008 by Kevin Rowan, The Journal

WORKERS don’t want the earth… In the constant battle to improve productivity and improve performance most enlightened employers understand the need to engage and involve workers in that goal.

All decent employers also realise that a workforce that is satisfied and that feels listened-to is also a much more productive one. Sadly, around six million workers, roughly one in four of the UK workforce, are not satisfied with their job, and almost one in three do not feel engaged by their employer.

A YouGov poll of more than 2,500 people at work in Britain showed the most common problem that faces people at work is increased workload, with 11 million workers, almost half of all workers, complaining about this. This is followed by ‘pay not keeping up with the cost of living’, cited by 42% of the workforce.

The top problems group into three main headings: workloads, stress and hours – the biggest complaint is of an increased workload (46%), with 39% complaining of increased stress and 23% of longer working hours; pay – just under half the workforce say their pay has not kept up with the cost of living and significant proportions say that their workplace has unfair pay structures or they do not get the same pay as people doing similar jobs for other organisations; and training and progression – 30% complain of poor prospects and 27% say they lack training – almost seven million workers.

Significant minorities of the workforce complain of serious problems. Three and a half million people say they have been bullied in their current job and just under two and a half million say their workplace is unsafe.

The top attribute that people look for in a job is fair pay, an aspiration for 98% of all workers, but only two-thirds say they enjoy their work. The next popular wish is largely met. Nine out of 10 value “working with a great group of people” (90%), and 84% say that they do. The biggest gap between aspiration and reality is “opportunities for promotion and advancement” – 73% say this is important but only 34% say that they experience this at work.

There are often peaks and troughs in workload demands. Workers understand this, but when the workload is consistently excessive it can have significant detrimental effects on workers’ health and well-being and rather than help improve productivity, it actually falls with longer hours and unreasonable workloads.

Some employers see training as a burden and a cost. Many increasingly realise that investing in good quality, relevant training not only leads to a better skilled workforce, but also one that is motivated, energised, more committed, less likely to be absent, more likely to stay with that employer and much more productive. It’s hard to see how we can lose from more employers and workers participating in training.

Kevin Rowan is Regional Secretary of Northern TUC