UK Workforce feels demotivated, insecure and undervalued

New research for the Insititution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) found that the UK workforce is demotivated, inseucre and feels undervalued, prompting the IOSH to urge employers to look after workers better.

The head of health and safety for the IOSH, Ruth Wilkinson, said:

"Businesses need to sit up and take notice. They cannot afford to ignore the results of this survey. It is a huge wake-up call for them; the findings lay out the way the UK's workforce is feeling right now."

More than two in five (44%) of survey respondents felt that employers did not pay attention to their health and safety. Nearly half (49%) said that the working environment and facilities were designed for comfort, and 45% believed they were not protected from hazardous materials. Just under a half (49%) felt that they were unappreciated within the organisation they worked for.

Managers and businesses leaders have a different view, with 80% saying that their employees enjoy a safe and comfortable working environment, though 57% admitted their staff didn't share this view.

Businesses have legal obligations enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that stipulate what PPE (personal protective equipment) is required and how workers need to be protected in hazardous environments. The IOSH urges businesses to do more, however, saying that occupational health and safety should be an integral part of social responsibility concerns. Socially sustainable organisations invest in their workers because they appreciate their high value.