UK workers struggle with wellbeing at work, with one in four reporting work makes them unhappy.

The report, issued by Robertson Cooper and the Bank Workers Charity (BWC) and first reported on by SmallBusiness.co.uk, also found that 10% of employees don’t even have one good day at work a week.

The aim of the survey was to explore how employers can create working environments that contribute to wellbeing, and why they should take time to understand the needs of their employees in order to create a constructive workplace.

The survey of 1,500 UK workers in private and public sector also reported that only 5% of respondents view work-life balance as an important factor for a good day at work.

Workers also failed to understand the importance of self-care when at work, as only one percent they said that getting fresh air during the day and making time for lunch was important.

In contrast, two thirds of employees reported feeling empowered talking about wellbeing, and half of those people (57%) said work makes them happy.

Psychologist and head of client experience at Robertson Cooper, Paula Brockwell, said: “The survey data enabled us to identify correlations between influencers, such as technology, management style, workplace relationships and conversations, and their impact on people’s physical and emotional energy levels. Our research showed that your energy levels — both physical and emotional — were the biggest contributors to whether or not you were having a good day at work.”

Brockwell added: “Work is no longer about just getting the job done and we need to ask ourselves more often, ‘did I have a good day at work’? It’s a simple question — but it’s linked to a broad concept of employee wellbeing, including physical and emotional energy, health, sustainable job satisfaction and performance.

“What we need organisations to understand is that employee wellbeing is intrinsically linked to business priorities. Business goals cannot be met if people are not happy, healthy and thriving.”

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Stephanie Whalley

Serial snacker, compulsive cocktail sipper and full time wordsmith with a penchant for alliteration, all things marketing and pineapple on pizza.

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