Jessica O'ConnorOver a third of UK employees (34%) fear being made redundant if their company performs poorly, according to research from Reward Gateway | Edenred.
The study found that ongoing economic pressures are directly affecting workforce morale.
Three in 10 workers (30%) said they experience anxiety when their company is struggling, while a quarter (25%) feel under pressure to perform.
Nearly one in five (18%) said worry they will miss out on promotions even if they meet performance goals.
The findings suggested that concerns over business performance are taking a measurable toll on wellbeing and output.
A large majority (81%) of employees said poor wellbeing leads to reduced productivity, while 41% said their wellbeing significantly affects how productive they are.
Although most respondents described their wellbeing as good (72%), one in 10 (10%) reported poor wellbeing at work.
Some employees said they remain unaffected by company performance – 17% said they do not let work influence their wellbeing, 11% said they are not paid enough to worry about it, and another 11% cited their seniority as a buffer from financial or operational stress.
Chris Britton, people experience director at Reward Gateway | Edenred, said: “While it may seem like business leaders are shouldering most of the problems their organisation faces, our research shows employees are on the same page.
“With constant news of redundancies due to rising employment costs, it’s no surprise that a significant number of workers fear for their jobs and livelihood.
“Ultimately, it’s their wellbeing at risk, and this not only impacts their productivity, but can turn into absences due to burn-out, stress and sickness down the line.”
Britton added that organisations need to take a proactive approach to employee wellbeing as economic challenges continue.
He said: “A business is only as good as its workforce, which is why it’s crucial for businesses to ensure their employees are happy, satisfied and thriving to improve wellbeing, productivity and retention rates.
“The difficult economic climate is even more reason to action this, as supported employees are more likely to work harder, take on more tasks and stay loyal.
“In the current worklessness crisis, this is more important than ever, and it’s time businesses get on board.”
