Employers urged to heed worker wellbeing
AUCKLAND: Tiredness, anxiety and difficulty concentrating are among the top causes of workplace stress, a survey has found.
The annual workplace wellbeing survey by EMA and nib New Zealand showed 85% of employees suffered tiredness, 63% felt anxious and 69% had trouble concentrating.
The survey recorded responses from 1200 New Zealand workers.
One in four intended to change jobs in the next 12 months. Of those thinking about a career change, 78% said they were looking for flexible working, 74% for career development, 74% for regular performance feedback and 69% for wellbeing initiatives.
EMA chief executive Brett O’Riley said employers needed to pay more attention to employees’ wellbeing.
‘‘We found the No 1 cause of workplace stress is understaffing, which often leads to poor worklife balance and places pressure on employees to work longer hours,’’ EMA chief executive Brett O’Riley said.
‘‘Flowon effects can impact an individual’s wellbeing, but also productivity at the business and its sustainability into the future.’’
The biggest concerns for employees were the state of the economy (79%), uncertainty about the future (64%) and health (58%).
Of those surveyed, 57% said health insurance was an important consideration when looking for work.
Nib chief executive Rob Hennin said a proactive approach to workplace health and wellbeing could help increase productivity, retain staff and help attract new talent.
‘‘It’s encouraging to see the survey results reinforce what we see in our business and what we hear from our rapidly growing portfolio of business clients, that providing fully funded health insurance for employees is a soughtafter benefit,’’ he said.
The latest trend to hit the employment sector is ‘‘quiet quitting’’.
International labour law expert professor Gordon Anderson, of Victoria University of Wellington, said it meant ‘‘doing your job, not overdoing your job’’.
He had recently read ‘‘minimum wage, minimum effort, moderate wage, moderate effort’’.
Mr Anderson said the ‘‘minimum wage these days has become a target rather than a bottom line’’.
He said that would make people question the amount of effort they put in. — RNZ