Ryan FowlerA report by WPI Economics, commissioned by Unum UK, highlights the economic impact of unhappy employees taking additional sick days, costing the UK economy an estimated £11 billion annually in lost productivity. The comprehensive survey involved over 4,000 UK employees, revealing that 48% report poor mental wellbeing, adversely affecting their productivity and overall health and happiness.
Key insights from the study include:
- Only 13% of those who are unhappy at work consider themselves very productive, a stark contrast to happier employees.
- Unhappy and unproductive employees lose an average of nine hours of productive time weekly, equating to more than a day’s work.
- A significant 80% of workers acknowledge higher productivity levels when they feel healthy and happy.
The report also explores the potential economic benefits of enhancing workplace happiness, suggesting that halving the number of unhappy workers could reduce losses from sickness absence and presenteeism by approximately £6.4 billion annually. Additionally, this improvement could yield a productivity boost valued at around £7.3 billion per year, underscoring the importance of addressing employee wellbeing in bolstering economic performance.
