An international poll, commissioned by recruiter Randstad UK, has found more workers in the UK say that they would not work at all if money was no object, than any comparable workforce in the world.
The global study polled 27,250 workers from around the world and found that well over half (60 per cent) of workers in the UK would choose not to work if money was no object, compared to the average of 47 per cent of twenty of the UK’s European peers - including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Turkey, Poland, Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Austria, Denmark, Romania, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Luxembourg.
Switzerland, Austria, and Romania had the fewest workers who would quit with 38, 37, and 36 per cent respectively.
Victoria Short, Chief Executive of Randstad UK, said:
“Although there might be very good reasons why people are not currently participating in the workforce - the rising cost of childcare; the need to care for elderly relatives; long-term health conditions; extending their time at university - this research poses a hypothetical question unconstrained by real-world considerations. The answer suggests economic inactivity is more popular here than in other countries. Willingness to participate in the workforce appears to be a peculiarly British problem.
“This could be because the UK has such stressful working conditions that the average employee can only dream of getting away from - that employers in the UK aren’t giving workers what they want or need.
“Treating your staff right is the way to success. That means more flexible, remote and part-time options, improving workplace culture, and doing more to ensure people don’t burn-out from stress and unrealistic workloads.”
The research also posed additional questions which highlighted other concerns. For example, participants were asked “How do you feel about your employer and your likelihood to stay with them?” to which 15 per cent of UK employees replied that they were not committed to their employer. A further 11 per cent said work was not important in their life and 12 per cent felt that their job did not give them a sense of purpose.
Victoria Shortadded: “….finding a fulfilling job has never been more important. There’s no point being miserable and just hanging in there. People need to get out there and find work that feels good”.
