In the current economic climate, the age at which workers can afford to retire has become something of a contentious issue. Government polls have found that ever-higher numbers of employees are choosing to remain an active part of the workforce thanks to worries regarding private or state pensions, while many more choose to search for part time work as a compromise between retiring entirely and earning additional income.
With that in mind, healthcare provider Benenden Health commissioned a study to reveal the average working life of employees in this country. Researchers polled 2,000 employees from various professions and age groups – with some surprising results – in order to find Mr or Miss Average in the nation’s workforce.
Altogether, the typical UK worker will have six different jobs throughout their career with 34 per cent of the workforce having to pick up an additional earner in order to make ends meet. During this time, they will be late 154 times, have a single office romance and require 125 sick days; unfortunately, being signed off due to stress will also appear in their work history.
Sadly there appears to be very little to be cheerful about, with the overwhelming results pointing to an increasingly unhappy British workforce. For example, the average worker will go through two periods in which financial worries drive them to distraction in their careers, while failing to maintain a healthy work/life balance is expected to cause at least two serious arguments with a partner.
Spokesman for Benenden Health, Paul Keenan, voiced his concern at the plight of the nation’s workers when revealing the results of the study.
He said; “We hear how UK workers are working longer and harder than ever before but this health check of the average adult’s working life confirms what we feared.
“Heavy workloads and disagreements with colleagues can all take a heavy toll on our wellbeing and many of us are seeing this spill over into our home lives.
“This is coupled with the on-going threat of redundancy whilst the UK economy struggles to get back on track.”
On the bright side eight significant pay rises will come along in the average working life, and bosses can breathe a sigh of relief – according to the study, workers will only complain about their employer or superior 623 times over 40 years, putting the dissatisfaction total at a respectable 14 times per year.
Yet according to Mr Keenan, these “small positives” cannot make up for over a third of workers needing to find a second job in order to earn a proper living wage – yet with the economy remaining in the doldrums, the question is whether this situation is likely to change any time soon.
Do you think workers are suffering more with stress and associated poor health as a direct result of the economy, or is the fast paced technologically driven business world now simply demanding more from employees?
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