A survey of staff in the City has revealed that employees are so stressed by their jobs that many resort to ëpulling sickiesí just for the chance to recover or spend more time with their families. Employees are also working weekends and many admit theyíre so snowed under with work theyíre sacrificing their bank holidays too.
The findings of the ëCity Workingí survey by City search agency Healy Hunt show:
- 63% have taken time off sick to spend time with their families ä 20% admit to taking time off simply because they canít face the day,
- 8% have called in sick due to exhaustion.
Despite taking days off sick to deal with life outside the workplace, workers are not taking full advantage of their annual leave entitlement.
- 57% Healy Huntís candidates have worked at least one bank holiday this year ä 15% of those have worked all five bank holidays ä 29% admit to having worked at least four weekends in the last two months ä 58% say theyíre unable to take their full holiday entitlement ñ two fifths say itís because the year passes by too quickly ñ the rest say the amount of work theyíre expected to get done makes taking a holiday unrealistic. ä 59% work beyond their contracted hours each day, because they feel colleagues and employers would complain if they left on time.
The survey also revealed that:
ä Work is the biggest cause of stress in the lives of 65% of those questioned ñ above paying the mortgage and bills (15%), children (10%), personal relationships (4%), health (3%) and getting older (3%).
Little wonder then that the majority of those questioned say they feel theyíre not doing their professional or personal lives justice. 57% of Healy Huntís survey base were under 35, ranging in positions from executive to director level.
Paul Hunt, partner, Healy Hunt said: ìItís obvious from these results that there is something very wrong with workplace culture, and management must consider the mental well-being of their staff if they are to be sure of a productive workforce. We hear the phrase work/ life balance bandied around an awful lot these days, but when we see that work is making such a high percentage of UK employees stressed and unhappy, itís vital that employers deal with the problem, rather than simply brush it under the carpet.î
Workplace bulimics binge on work, then call in sick to help cope with stress
Survey also reveals employees feign sickness to spend time with their families
