Recent findings highlight the significant loss of productivity due to employee dissatisfaction.
- Dissatisfied employees lose up to 77 days a year from work due to absence and presenteeism.
- There is a strong link between job dissatisfaction and mental health issues like depression and burnout.
- Employers may have a critical role in enhancing staff health and job satisfaction.
- A strategy focused on employee wellbeing could boost productivity and satisfaction.
Recent studies have revealed a worrying trend concerning employee dissatisfaction and its impact on productivity. It has been highlighted that employees who are dissatisfied with their jobs lose up to the equivalent of 77 days a year due to a combination of absence and presenteeism. Presenteeism refers to employees being present at work but unable to perform optimally due to mental and physical health issues.
The Britain’s Healthiest Workplace survey by Vitality offers insights into this phenomenon, using data where participants rated their job satisfaction and fulfilment levels at their workplace. The survey underscores a stark reality: dissatisfied employees experience a 91% greater loss in productive time compared to their satisfied counterparts. There is a clear association between job dissatisfaction and mental health problems, with dissatisfied individuals at higher risk of depression (21% versus 6%) and burnout (33% versus 9%).
The intricate factors contributing to employee satisfaction extend beyond workload and compensation, involving aspects like workplace culture and benefits. Nearly half of the dissatisfied workforce believes employers could actively improve their health and wellbeing, as opposed to a quarter of satisfied employees. This necessitates an emphasis on a well-crafted health and wellbeing strategy that aligns with both business and employee needs.
Pippa Andrews, Director of Corporate Business at Vitality, stated, “This data provides an interesting insight into how intrinsically linked a person’s health and wellbeing is to their job satisfaction.” This strategy, she asserts, could lead to significant boosts in productivity by prioritising employee health and wellbeing.
Echoing this view, Jeanette Cook PhD, Principal Wellbeing Consultant at Aon, reinforced the connection between wellbeing and organisational performance. She emphasised that companies must grasp how productivity, engagement, mental health, and job satisfaction intertwine to derive substantial value through strategic actions.
Understanding and improving employee satisfaction can significantly benefit both productivity and mental health.
