Report: Work / Life Balance

Stress in the workplace:

38% indicated that stress does not just affect them individually, but a particularly hard day means they can take it out on their partners or children. 12% of the poll admitted to feeling like bad mothers because of their job. They described themselves as snappy, ratty and impatient with others. Increasing pressure to meet targets, deadlines and pay bills added to stress levels and some of our poll reported that they continually think about the tasks they need to do the next day. Interestingly, 15% of the poll believed that it was up to them to manage and combat rising stress levels and many got annoyed at themselves for allowing stress to affect them outside of work. Exercise was mentioned as an effective way of reducing anxiety.

What causes you stress at work?
The biggest contributing factors were colleagues (40%) and deadlines (45%). Negative comments, gossip and competition from workmates caused added tension and pressure to complete projects in ever decreasing time span were chiefly to blame for rising levels of stress, our respondents said.

Do you receive support from your employers when it comes to stress?
71% of our poll said yes. From regular team talks, counselling help-lines and flexi hours, our respondents thought that bosses were generally supportive and approachable. However constant negative criticism was demoralising for 14% of the poll.

What could be done to improve it?
One respondent thought that management should rethink their one fit all mentality to allow individual options for working hours and time spent at desks. Flexi time, rewards, recognition and regular supervision were the most popular answers. Greater childcare options could all make 42% of employees’ lives easier we were told.

Working hours:

Given the choice would you prefer to work fewer hours each day or certain days for less pay?
50% would prefer to work fewer hours and 50% had a preference for more free days. Having more time for family meant 37% would like to work fewer hours.

Ask if respondents would like to adjust their starting/finishing times they told us…..
77% would like the freedom to work hours that corresponded to their lifestyle. For 43% it would allow them to attend to childcare issues or pursue outside work interests. 11% would like to start work at a later time.

We asked what was stopping respondents’ employers from offering flexi time as an option to them?
50% needed to be around at specific times to talk to customers or other employees made it difficult for the majority of our poll to be offered non rigid working times but many were already allowed to start at different times. 18% believed tradition stopped bosses changing the 9 – 5 norm.

We wanted to know just how flexible bosses were and we asked whether employees had ever had a request for flexi time turned down?
37% said yes and feedback indicated that employees often felt uncomfortable about asking to alter their hours.
18% felt an obligation to keep their bosses happy that prevented them from asking for time off.

Work impact on your home life?
53% said yes, mentioning long hours and feeling unhappy in their job.

We probed further to find out if our respondents had ever thrown a sickie to get off work?
Unsurprisingly, 90% of our poll admitted to this misdemeanour. Reasons given included wanting to go out with friends, being unable to face work and feeling that time off is unlikely to be granted even if it is requested. 11% did concede that they felt guilty for their behaviour.

Working from home:

We were interested in just how many of the poll ever worked from home?
Almost 90% of those questioned did working from home at least occasionally and many had the option of flexible working arrangements. However 18% felt the disadvantages of doing so included isolation and feeling there was no escape from work. On the plus side 42% of the home workers reported feeling less stressed.

Could you carry your job out from home, we asked?
47% said yes and 22% would like to do so occasionally. Keeping a division between home and work life meant that 27% our respondents would prefer to work at the office.

Asked if they would like to split working hours between home and the office we found….
16% felt that they could achieve more at home because there would be fewer distractions from colleagues or clients. 38% believed that they actually end up working longer when they are at home. However one respondent was quick to point out that the many financial implications of working from home are not often considered, meaning that employees could end up paying for the extra heating, phone and electricity that is used. Interestingly, feeling lonely and disconnected from other work mates was one reason why 28% of respondents wouldn’t like to work solely from home.

So what is stopping employers from letting their staff work from home more often?
It seems that new technology isn’t all its cracked up to be and being unable to access files and information means working from home can be problematic for 27%. 19% of our respondents felt that issues of trust restriction hindered them from working at home.

Moving Jobs:

In an attempt to gauge how happy employees are in their present position we asked them if they would like to move jobs?
66% of the poll said yes. Interestingly earning more money wasn’t the most popular reason (28%) boredom was (42%). Evil bosses also meant respondents were keen to change jobs. However some were happy in their current position and thought that the ‘grass wasn’t necessarily greener’.

In terms of career plans we asked how long it would be before respondents changed jobs?
Two years was the most popular time frame (45%). Respondents wanted to gain more qualifications and training before they looked for new jobs.

But what would encourage employees to stay put?
More money was a major factor that would help convince 76% respondent to stay. Feeling appreciated would make a difference to 24% of the poll. A reduction or flexibility in working hours was also an important factor

Is location important? We probed our poll to find out if they would move homes for a new job?
An astonishing 83% said yes, believing that a change of surroundings would be advantageous. The idea of a job swap with someone in a foreign country was even suggested by one respondent.

Finally, we asked, that given the decision again, would respondents still choose to join their current company?
87% would not choose the same job again. Reasons included being unaware of exactly what the job entailed and the amount of pressure. 12% would prefer to have completely different career.

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