Workplace Wellbeing Census
How do people in the UK really feel about their wellbeing at work?
Bupa Workplace Wellbeing Census
Wellbeing means different things to different people – from mental and physical health, to general happiness and quality of life. In simple terms, it’s about how we are doing as individuals. We wanted to find out how people feel about their wellbeing at work. So, we’ve partnered with YouGov to publish the Workplace Wellbeing Census – a must-read for business leaders, people managers and anyone whose work covers employee wellbeing.
The census explores how employees really feel about their wellbeing, how their working life affects it, and how well-equipped businesses are to deal with wellbeing issues. It compares the different experiences of younger and older employees, businesses big and small across 12 industry sectors.
A word from Mark Allan
Commercial Director at Bupa UK
At Bupa, we believe good wellbeing allows everyone to flourish. Whilst we all have a personal responsibility to look after our own wellbeing, we need to look out for each other too, especially at work.
Health and wellbeing isn’t a ‘nice to have’, or something to pay lip service to in corporate strategy meetings. A healthy organisation employing healthy, productive people is good for everyone.
Yet despite many businesses taking steps in the right direction, the Workplace Wellbeing Census highlights there’s still much more we can all be doing. By understanding the unique challenges faced by individual industries and businesses alike, our aim is to promote inclusive workplaces, where wellbeing is part of the culture of every organisation, where people feel able to bring their whole selves to work, and where everyone feels like they can thrive.
Did you know?
Almost 1 in 4 people are struggling with their overall wellbeing
Almost 1 in 3 people under 35 say their mental health is poor
1 in 2 people say colleagues have a positive impact on their wellbeing
More than 1 in 3 people say workload negatively affects their wellbeing
42% of employees do not feel comfortable talking to their manager about their wellbeing
28% of employees have experienced bullying and/or discrimination at work in the last 3 years
Explore and download the research now
Summary
Our findings show factors as diverse as a person’s salary, their daily commute and the quality of the relationship they have with their line manager, can all have an impact on someone’s wellbeing at work.
Yet it’s the people they sit next to day-to-day – their colleagues – that people say have the most positive effect on their wellbeing.
The census highlights several causes for concern. Nearly a quarter of people are struggling with their wellbeing, and three-quarters of those say both their work life and mental health are poor too. Many people feel their workload is a having a negative impact. Only half of all employees told us that they would feel comfortable talking to their line manager about their wellbeing.
Take action now
Every business, no matter what size it is, needs to take employee wellbeing seriously. The business case is simple: having a workforce that’s healthy, resilient, engaged and motivated helps businesses to thrive.
Here are four key findings you can use to make your workplace better for everyone.
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People need people
Humans are social creatures. So, the interactions employees have with their colleagues can have a big impact on their mental health and general wellbeing. The quality of the relationship a person has with their line manager is important too. Managers need to have the time to talk to their team and also be better equipped to deal with wellbeing issues.
The power of a positive environment
People feel better when they feel valued. Lack of recognition for a job well done can have a negative impact on wellbeing. So can the experience of being discriminated against because of who you are. Every business should be looking to foster an inclusive working environment – one that’s open, honest and sensitive to needs of every member of staff.
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Simple actions can drive results
Changing the culture of an entire organisation can seem daunting. But simple actions can yield positive results. For example, finding the time to listen to someone’s concerns can make them feel better. Reviewing the way your team manages its workload could be a useful exercise, too. And giving people the freedom to tailor their workload when they need to can pre-empt any negative impact on their wellbeing.
It’s easy to exclude people
It’s wrong to assume that bullying and discrimination don’t exist in the modern workplace anymore. Our research shows more than 1 in 4 people have experienced some form of bullying or discrimination in the past three years, and half of those that experienced bullying said it had a negative impact on their wellbeing. Employees need to be able to have faith in the procedures their employers have in place to protect them from discrimination.
Find out more about our health and wellbeing cover for your employees
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The Bupa Workplace Wellbeing Census was published in November 2019. Fieldwork for the study was undertaken on behalf of Bupa by YouGov. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 4,007 employees in private businesses. The figures have been weighted and are representative of British business size. Respondents were middle management level and below, from companies of all sizes.
Bupa health insurance is provided by Bupa Insurance Limited. Registered in England and Wales No.3956433. Bupa Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Arranged and administered by Bupa Insurance Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales No. 3829851. Bupa Health Assessments and Occupational Health services are provided by Bupa Occupational Health Limited. Registered in England and Wales No.631336. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London, EC2R 7HJ.
