Many employees are now expected to take on the workload of more than one person, according to a survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting. Only 55% of the people surveyed say there are enough people in their department to handle the workload. Furthermore, less than two-thirds (62%) believe the amount of work they are asked to do is reasonable. The survey covered a cross-section of over 1,000 British workers.
"It is hardly surprising that stress is now one of the major causes of long-term sickness absence in the UK," said David Tong, Principal at Mercer. "As companies continue to cut back costs, there is an increasing expectation that employees will take on additional responsibilities. Young professionals have always felt the need to work much longer than the traditional 35-hour week to prove themselves and claw their way up the career ladder - now other employees are expected to follow suit."
He added: "It is concerning that, while the UK is seeking to increase productivity, almost 4 in 10 employees believe the department they work in is not run efficiently. Many employees are under pressure from their workloads because they are compensating for poor processes and work organisation."
Under two-thirds of the employees surveyed (65%) say they are able to maintain a healthy balance between their work and personal lives. "Many organisations claim they offer flexible working arrangements, but most of these schemes are available to only a select group of employees," said Mr Tong. "By being more adaptable to people´s personal circumstances, companies can help to retain a healthier and more engaged workforce."
According to the survey, just half the respondents (50%) believe managers in their organisation understand the problems employees experience in their jobs. "Often managers are too caught up in day-to-day pressures to listen to their employees. But if staff do not feel their managers support or empathise with them, they are likely to become frustrated and disaffected," Mr Tong commented.
"Employee attitude surveys can help uncover problem areas and show line managers where they should be focusing their efforts to improve morale and productivity," he added.
The results are from Mercer´s What´s Working Survey and are based on data collected from a survey of 1,119 working adults in Britain representing a broad cross-section of industries. Respondents completed an employee opinion survey about their perceptions of their job, organisation, work environment, compensation, benefits and the management of their organisation. The weighted survey results are representative of the entire British workforce and individual industry sectors.
Mercer Human Resource Consulting is the global leader for HR and related financial advice, products, and services, with more than 15,000 employees serving clients in 190 cities and 41 countries and territories worldwide. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., which lists its stock (ticker symbol: MMC) on the New York, Chicago, Pacific, and London stock exchanges.
It is the largest consulting firm of its type in the UK, with some 3,000 staff in 15 office locations. Website: www.mercerHR.com/ukpress
