Health in the Workplace Report - Ireland

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Health in the Workplace: A study into rewards at work and employee wellbeing Ireland Report Produced by One4all 2015 www.one4allrewards.ie

Transcript of Health in the Workplace Report - Ireland

Health in the Workplace: A study into rewards at work and

employee wellbeingIreland Report

Produced by One4all

2015

www.one4allrewards.ie

INTRODUCTION

With 80% of white collar workers clocking up more than 40 hours each week* and technology meaning that work is encroaching more and more into personal leisure time, taking care of employee wellbeing is becoming an increasing priority for many businesses.

Employee wellbeing can be key to increasing productivity, reducing absenteeism and also retaining and attracting the best workers.

At One4all Rewards we work with organisations to develop programmes that incentivise desirable behaviour. This isn’t about encouraging people to work around the clock, but incentivising greater productivity.

For this report we have commissioned research across 1,000 workplaces**, looking at how employees feel about issues to do with their wellbeing and productivity. It offers useful insights that will help your organisation become a healthier and more productive place to work, and demonstrate the value improving employee wellbeing can have.

Michael DawsonManaging Director, One4all Rewards

* Robert Walters Career Lifestyle survey, May 2013

** Survey conducted by Atomik Research for One4All Rewards, May 2015

The relationship between health and productivity in the workplace is being ignored by the majority of employers

Currently over a quarter (28%) of the Irish workforce admits that they are underperforming due to poor health and wellbeing.

A large number of that workforce (43%) estimate that improving this aspect of their lives would improve their productivity at work by more than 10%.

In addition, 31% of respondents – nearly a third of the Irish workforce – said that they would be less likely to call in sick if their employer made an effort to look after their health and wellbeing.

Given that unplanned leave costs businesses on average €818 per employee each year, the benefits of introducing a ‘wellbeing in the workplace’ scheme are self-evident.*

Despite this, the vast majority of employers are doing nothing to address this problem, with an overwhelming 85% of respondents stating that the company they work for does not actively encourage a healthier lifestyle.

*Employee Absenteeism report by IBEC, 2009

“As a trainer I see many people on a daily basis who are pleasantly surprised by the improvement in their energy levels and overall feeling of wellness just by getting in a little exercise each day.”

Siobhan Byrne, Director of BodyByrne Fitness

How is work currently impacting the health of employees?

For many employees their workplace has a negative impact on their health and wellbeing.

11% of workers in the past year report becoming ill as a direct result of their work.

Over three times that number (38%) say that their work is a cause of them regularly feeling high degrees of stress.

27% admit that they sometimes do not sleep as a result of work pressures.

Conversely, only 15% of workers said that their work actually had a positive impact on their health and wellbeing.

Employees persevering in spite of ill health

Despite many workers not feeling on top of their game, this isn’t translating into a ‘sicknote’ culture.

39% of employees haven’t taken a single day off work due to illness in the past year and only 15% admit to throwing a ‘sickie’ in this time.

While seemingly good news, this can also mean that absenteeism isn’t an effective way for employers to measure the true state of staff health and wellbeing.

A worrying 69% of employees have gone into work despite being ill at least once in the past 12 months, suggesting that employees feel pressured to show up for work even when they should stay at home.

In part, it also seems that employers are encouraging this culture of presenteeism – a belief that being at your desk is more important than being well – with 35% of people saying that they feel under pressure from bosses to go into work even when they are ill.

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Perc

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14.77

68.76

In the past year I’ve pulled a sickie when I was really well enough to go

to work

In the past year I’ve gone into work even

though I was sick

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9+

38.62

13.1716.67

9.185.69 5.49

2.20 1.90 0.606.49

Number of ‘Sick Days’ Taken in the last 12 months

The ‘always on’ workplace culture

Employee attendance

The ‘always on’ business culture

Work is also encroaching on lunch beaks, holidays and free time, preventing employ-ees from being able to properly relax and get away from the pressures of the day.

Nearly 25% of Irish workers say that they regularly work through lunch without any extra pay.

In 23% of workplaces it is common practice for employees to answer emails and carry out work while they are meant to be on holiday.

And only in 1 in 4 workplaces did people say that it was easy to switch off and forget work at the end of the day.

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22.6525.15

In my place of work, people work a lot

on emails and other work related items even when they are

on holidays

In my place of work, people switch off when they have finished work

17.96

24.95

42.61

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At lunchtime I rarely get away from the desk

I regularly work through lunch without any extra pay

At lunchtime I mostly get away from the desk

The ‘always on’ workplace culture

Working lunchSwitching off

Why introduce a company health scheme?

Company health schemes come in all shapes and sizes, but crucially they all send an important message to staff that their employer genuinely cares about staff health and wellbeing.

As a result, such schemes can be a powerful tool for keeping and attracting the best workers.

72% of people taking part in the survey said that knowing their employer cared about their health would mean that they were more likely to remain with that company.

In terms of attracting staff, a good work life balance was also a major factor for just under a third (32%) of candidates when choosing a new job (second only to better pay and benefits).

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Stronglyagree

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Feel morevalued

Be less likely to accept a jobelsewhere

Be happier to work longer

hours

29.34

42.32

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1.30 0.70

Agree Neitheragreenor

Disagree

Disagree StronglyDisagree

55.29

24.65

16.47

“I would be more likely to stay at a company that cares about my health.”

“If my company offered wellness or health schemes

it would make me...”

Why introduce a company health scheme?

How are workplace health and wellbeing schemes perceived by staff?

Employees are keen for companies to do more to support healthier lifestyles.

40% of employees believe there should be financial incentives offered by companies to encourage them to stay fit and healthy.

Over two-thirds (67%) of workers would like to see employers offering advice and information on health-related subjects.

Specifically, 44% would like to see employers provide exercise information to encourage healthier lifestyles, while 28% would like companies to offer help to quit smoking.

24% would welcome weight loss advice from the businesses they work for.

5% even admitted that they would like to see employers provide advice on matters related to sexual health.

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Weightloss

advice

ExerciseInfo

Help toquit

smoking

Sexualhealthadvice

What types of schemes would be welcomed by employees?

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9.18

32.83

Other(not listed)

None of the above

What kinds of wellbeing and health schemes are Irish companies currently offering?

Workers at 15% of Irish companies believe that their employer makes their health and wellbeing a top priority.

And in 43% of workplaces there is some form of health and wellness scheme in place.

The most common schemes are free or subsidised health insurance (16%) or vaccination services (16%). Other schemes include free or subsidised gym memberships (9%), fitness classes (7%) and smoking cessation programmes (5%).

Such programmes are most common in the Healthcare and Retail sectors. They are least common in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sector.

What kinds of health and wellbeing schemes are companies offering?

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15.57

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57.19

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Vaccination services (e.g. flu jabs)

Weight loss schemes

Quitting smoking programmes

Fitness classes

A mental health / duvet day

Free fruit, vegetables and health snacks

Free / Subsidised gym membership

Free / Subsidised health insurance

Dont know

Other (please specify)

None of the above

What else can employers do?

Taking an active role in employee health and wellbeing does not only mean implementing a special scheme - making healthier choices about work social events and the facilities in the working environment can also make a significant difference.

For example, 20% of workplaces have canteens or vending machines that only offer ‘unhealthy’ meals and snacks.

Many companies can also be said to promote an after hours drinking culture. 33% of employers only have social nights that centre around alcohol.

Making changes to these areas will also contribute to healthier workplaces.

Where possible, encouraging healthy commuting can also promote fitness as well as being more environmentally friendly.

30% of workplaces were reported to be making use of the Government-subsidised Cycle to Work scheme and a further 17% were encouraging cycling by providing facilities such as secure bike storage areas.

Conclusion

These findings clearly show that, while it is still the minority of Irish companies who are offering health and wellbeing schemes – or even demonstrate that employee health is a top priority – those that do can reap significant rewards in terms of greater productivity and staff recruitment and retention.

Offering these types of benefits not only makes companies more desirable places to work, but can also mean that staff work more efficiently, take less time off and are more loyal.

This study clearly shows that staff actively welcome employers offering such schemes and greatly value the support they provide. Also appreciated is the message they send about the importance employers place on staff health and wellbeing.