Around a quarter (24%) of respondents believe improved employee benefits would make them feel happier about their place of work, according to research by recruitment firm Adecco.
Its survey of 1,054 workers also found that around half (48%) of respondents believe that a salary increase would make them feel happier, while a quarter (25%) claim that flexible working practices would improve their negative feelings towards the workplace.
The research also found:
- 16% of respondents say that better recognition from their co-workers would make them feel happier about their place of work.
- Around a third (28%) of respondents have called in sick because of anxiety about the workplace.
- 29% of respondents spend each Sunday dreading the coming working week.
- 36% would consider leaving an organisation due to severe anxiety.
- 57% of respondents name a heavy workload as their cause of stress and anxiety, while 33% cite a lack of managerial support.
- 56% find it difficult to switch off from their day-to-day working life when they are on holiday.
- 44% feel depressed, anxious or stressed ahead of a new working week.
Alex Fleming, managing director at Adecco, said: “A good office dynamic is crucial for happy and productive workplaces. The prevalence of office politics as a cause of such severe stress is an indication that many organisations are struggling to manage their office culture.
“It is also worrying that so many workers spend their weekends and holidays full of anxiety and dread about their return to work on Monday morning.”
