Why the UK workforce is one of the least engaged in Europe

Why the UK workforce is one of the least engaged in Europe

A Gallup survey points to hard evidence of what many in HR will already suspect: UK workers are just not feeling it when it comes to their workplace. 90% don’t feel “enthused”. And whatever cultural changes are happening in the modern world and attitudes to work, they are more negative in the UK than in most other countries in Europe.

The issue of disengagement and the need for urgent action is the subject of a planned People Management/Management Today webinar in September 2023, addressing topics such as the role of workplace planning and employee experience.

Mind the gap

According to the survey authors, the main cause behind workplace disengagement and feelings of “worry, stress and anger” is the “avalanche of negative news”: the cost-of-living crisis, the evidence of looming problems from climate change, the sight of the NHS becoming overwhelmed.

In other words, a sense of fatalism that is undermining our ability to feel positive and committed to an organisation and its goals. At the same time, say Gallup, staff aren’t necessarily looking for other roles, but staying in jobs due to fears over the impact of a recession.

Belonging together

EAPA UK Chair, Karl Bennett said: “At the heart of the problem of disengagement is mental wellbeing. More people are struggling to see a positive future, how their commitment and energy for work matters in a context of worsening insecurities and diminishing financial returns.

“In this situation, mental toughness and resilience are all-important. And employers can play a huge role in helping people improve their mental wellbeing, a sense of positivity around the future and their part in building a better future for themselves and the people they care about.

“It’s a positive cycle: employers who contribute to good mental health at work encourage a greater sense of belonging, of community and purpose, which in turn leads to more engagement and an important platform for mental wellbeing.”