British workplaces among worst in Europe – Report

• Published On: 25 November 2024 at 11:02

British workplaces are among the worst in Europe for long hours, tight deadlines, and limited autonomy, with no corresponding improvement in productivity, according to a report released ahead of the new Labour government's intention for stronger employer laws.

According to Reuters, three-fifths of the workforce faced tight deadlines, and two-fifths worked at fast speeds—some of the highest figures in Europe—with only one-third having control over the pace of their work.

The research was written for the Commission for Healthier Working Lives, which was founded by Britain's Health Foundation think tank in partnership with trade unions.

Its purpose is to improve working conditions and lobby for improvements in new employment legislation.

"Problem areas to prioritise now are long hours, work intensity, and a lack of control or work autonomy," stated one of the report's authors, Jonny Gifford, principal research fellow at the Institute of Employment Studies.

Tony Wilson, another co-author of the report and previous chief of the Institute for Employment Studies, departed the organization in October to become a senior advisor at the British Labour Ministry.

Meanwhile, several firms are concerned about the new government's stance and how it may affect employment rules.

On Monday, the Confederation of British Industry warned that harsher employment laws could exacerbate concerns caused by a significant increase in social security costs and the minimum wage.

The CBI anticipates that these changes will result in lower employment, salaries, and long-term investment in the economy.

According to the survey, working circumstances vary by sector, with industries such as construction, transportation, warehousing, retail, and hospitality facing particularly harsh conditions. Among professional professions, nurses and teachers reported feeling a lot of stress.

Much of the data in the paper came from a 2021 European Union poll on working conditions.

While Britons reported better-than-average relationships with coworkers and bosses, they performed poorly in other categories such as work-life balance and employment stability.

"On nearly every measure, the UK ranks among the worst in Europe for workplace demands, control at work, and job strain," the survey stated, adding that roughly half of Britons reported feeling weary at work.

The survey also stated that workplace stress has increased over the previous 25 years, indicating a growing worry about mental health and well-being in the workplace.

"Considering the UK's lower labour productivity compared to peers such as France and Germany, these conditions do not seem justifiable on performance grounds," the report added.