Stress, overwork and poor work-life balance undermine UK job quality
The CIPD calls for employers to offer better flexible working practices to help combat the problem
Over-work, stress and poor work-life balance are undermining attempts to improve job quality in the UK, new research from the CIPD finds.
5,136 people were surveyed for
the UK Working Lives Survey, an annual assessment of job quality across seven
different categories including pay and benefits, contracts and employment terms,
and voice and representation.
Poor work-life balance was
identified as a particular problem, with many people admitting their job caused
disruption to family life and made it hard for them to switch-off in their
downtime. Three in five (60%) say they work longer hours than they want and one
in four (24%) say they overwork by ten or more hours a
week.
A
quarter (24%) admit it’s difficult to relax in their own time because they are
thinking about work and that their job affects their personal commitments
(26%).
The report also uncovers
evidence of high levels of work intensity which, like a poor work-life balance,
is known to be a cause of stress. Nearly a quarter of people say they often or
always feel exhausted in their jobs (22%), or under excessive pressure
(22%).
Other findings from the report
highlight serious concerns about the demands of work and the impact it can have
on people’s health. Two in three workers (66%) say they have experienced a
work-related health condition in the last 12 months, with anxiety and sleep
problems being two of the most common issues reported.
To
improve people’s work-life balance and protect their health and well-being the
CIPD is calling on employers to offer a range of flexible working practices to
all employees. This can help to address the causes of work-related stress and
also brings business benefits, such as a more engaged
workforce.
The report finds that three
quarters of flexible workers (78%) say that flexible working has a positive
impact on their quality of life. However, many are missing out with two-thirds
of employees (68%) wanting to work flexibly in at least one form that is not
currently available to them.
The CIPD, which co-chairs the
Flexible Working Taskforce, is seeking to boost the availability of flexible
working across the UK. It has produced new guidance and tools on flexible
working for all sectors, providing tips on how to improve uptake, successfully
implement and carry out an effective evaluation.
The CIPD is also urging
employers to fulfil their statutory duty of carrying out a comprehensive health
and safety risk assessment.
It
is also vital that organisations provide effective training for line managers in
people management practices to help prevent poor health and stress at work,
enable flexible working practices and support work-life
balance.
In a speech delivered
today at the opening of the Festival of Work at Olympia London, Peter Cheese,
chief executive at the CIPD, will say:
“At its best, work gives people purpose, a sense of identity and achievement, and allows them to contribute to society. But, as our research shows, work can sometimes be all-encompassing, demands too much of people’s precious personal time and takes too much out of them.
“It’s disappointing to see so many workers report they have a poor work-life balance and is an issue which must be addressed by employers. They need to be offering all staff a wide range of flexible working arrangements and actively promote their take-up.
“As co-chair of the Flexible Working Task Force, we are working with the government and other business groups to bring flexible working to the masses and help reset the work-life balance. Not only will this help to improve people’s quality of life, but it will make their performance at work more sustainable over the long-term.”