Workers feel economic strain

14/08/2008

Businesses are not the only ones ruing the onset of the credit crunch – employees are also being affected, with more than a quarter saying they are unhappy at work, a new report has shown.

The figure is up from just over 20% in April, said Badenoch & Clark, the recruitment consultancy who commission the Happiness at Work Index.

One in ten workers said they work the equivalent of an extra day a week, while more than a third of respondents reported low morale, and one in 20 had already handed in their notice as a direct response to ‘growing sweatshop culture’.

The report found that the 45-54 year old age group are bearing the brunt of the pressure, with almost six in 10 reporting increases in their workload. Workers in the HR sector are also feeling the strain, with almost 90% reporting higher workloads.

Neil Wilson, managing director at Badenoch & Clark, warned businesses to make sure their employees feel valued at work – or risk losing them.

“People remember how they’re treated during the tough times and act upon that during the good times,” he said.

“The warning signals are there already. We’re seeing some people hand in their notice as a result of bigger workloads. The employers who ignore the happiness of their workers leave themselves open to a mass exodus as soon as the economy picks up.

“People are generally willing to knuckle down during tough times, but if they feel they’re being unfairly treated then they will always keep one eye open for a better opportunity elsewhere,” he added.