Industry firms failing to support workers through cost-of-living crisis

According to a recent YouGov poll, construction industry workers in the UK are being failed by their employers, who offer some of the lowest levels of mental health and wellbeing support to employees across all industries.

The survey of 3,000 companies and employees showed that 37% of construction businesses regarded improving staff morale as their responsibility, with the majority of businesses prioritising attracting and retaining talent and improving productivity over employee support. 

In addition, 10% of construction businesses said they spent nothing on mental health and wellbeing support for employees, with 18% spending £100 or less per employee per year. 

The poll commissioned by Frog Systems revealed that construction workers received some of the lowest levels of support across various areas, such as access to employee assistance programs and life insurance. 

Only 19% of employees had access to an EAP compared to 42% in IT and telecoms, and only 13% were offered employer-supported volunteering compared to 35% in IT and telecoms. 

The survey highlights the need for employers to provide more support to employees facing financial difficulties, such as flexible working hours, secure shifts, and access to specialist support. 

Phil Worms, CEO of Frog Systems, says the report highlights the lack of trust in the workplace around wellbeing support and the need for companies to understand and listen to employee needs to create more empathetic and productive work environments.

“Whilst many employers seem to understand the emotional and physical challenges being faced by their employees, they don’t appear to be able to provide the right wellbeing tools and information to support them.

“Solutions which are reactive, standalone, ‘tick box,’ not trusted, or do not provide sufficient insight will not enable the deployment of early intervention and support strategies,” he said.

“By listening to and understanding what employees need, companies can build stronger, more empathetic and productive work environments.

Access to wellbeing support should not be a lottery or a privilege.”