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Employers 'creating stressful environment'

05 July 2010 Breaking News

One in five workers believes that their employer creates a stressful environment, suggests a new survey from Aviva.

The insurer's annual Health of the Workplace research found that nearly half of employees (47%) say that they feel much tenser at work than in their home life. While 50% of employers consider themselves to be good role models, 45% admit to being stressed at work. Over a quarter (29%) admit they could do with improving their employees' work / life balance.

The survey highlights the emphasis on securing maximum productivity, with a third of employers questioned citing this as their primary aim. However, more than a quarter (27%) of employers say that their main priority is to create a motivated team who enjoy working together and 25% say that their number one priority is achieving a friendly company with a good work/life balance.

Research suggests that a healthy workforce may actually be more productive. Bupa cites research in its Healthy Work report published last week that employees in good health can be up to three times as productive as those in poor health: they can experience fewer motivational problems, are more resilient to change and are more likely to be engaged with the business's priorities. 

Dr. Doug Wright, principal clinical consultant at Aviva UK Health, said: "Businesses need to balance their financial priorities with efforts to improve the health, wellbeing and morale of the workforce."

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