Research suggests there is a gap between the perceptions of senior leaders and workers on the shopfloor.
A survey from Make UK says 64% of senior decision makers say their board is “leading the way “on health issues compared to 48% of the shopfloor.
Divergence Impacting Morale and Productivity
The membership and training body conducted a survey with both senior decision makers and employees across manufacturing.
The research revealed significant divergence between the perceptions of leaders and the experience on the ground of those of the workforce which is leading to lower morale, increased absence and lower productivity.
While manufacturers have activity in place such as policies, procedures and risk assessments, many employees are reporting these are not consistently understood or experienced.
Where risk assessments are carried out, not everyone sees the implementation while employees are reporting these is a lack of awareness of what wellbeing policies include.
Almost a third of companies also report they don’t provide an Employee Assistance Programme.
This may be due to lack of awareness of these programmes or the cost to business.
Risk Assessments Not Translating into Action
However, with Statutory Sick Pay coming in from day one, employers may find that the costs of not offering more of these types of programmes is far greater than the cost of employees being off sick. Official data estimates this will cost business £400m a year.
The survey also shows that, according to senior decision makers, more than nine in ten companies (91%) have risk assessments in place for manual handling and 80% on chemicals and substances.
However, significantly fewer companies have assessments in place for wellbeing (60%) and stress (48%).
Of those companies that have carried out risk assessments for wellbeing, almost two thirds (62%) have created an implementation plan (three quarters for chemicals and substances), while on stress just over half (52%) have created an implementation plan compared to three quarters on chemicals and substances.
Fatalities Declining but Wider Health Issues Growing
Chris Newson, Director of Environment, Health & Safety at Make UK, said: “The number of fatalities in UK workplaces has fallen consistently fallen, establishing the UK as a global leader in workplace health and safety. This is a significant and hard-won achievement.
“However, while fatalities remain an important indicator, an over-reliance on them can risk masking wider issues.
“The data suggests that trends in wellbeing and long-term ill health are worsening with the size of the problem growing, not shrinking. This demands a more rounded approach from companies to workforce health.”
