One in three (32 per cent) people in the UK are coasting in their career and the biggest cause appears to be unhappiness in their current workplace, according to a report entitled Why BWell from Barnett Waddingham.
The alarming statistic – which equates to more than ten million of the workforce – comes as the UK battles to solve a productivity crisis which since the financial crisis has seen our output slow more than any other leading western economy. The Why BWell report, created through interviews with 3,000 UK workers, was undertaken to gain fresh insight into health and wellbeing in the workplace. When respondents were asked how they were coping at work, just over half (55 per cent) were positive about their performance, however a third (32 per cent) admitted to coasting, while seven per cent said they were struggling.
The most compelling reason why people coast is unhappiness at work, rather than any lack of ambition. While three in five (62 per cent) coasters were content in their lives generally, only around a third (36 per cent) were happy at work – suggesting that many could be mobilised to becoming better performing workers if employers could figure out how to make them happier and more productive at work.
Less than half (47 per cent) of those who coast say their job is meaningful to them and that they add value; yet among those excelling in their occupations, nine in ten (89 per cent) feel that they lack a sense of purpose. Meanwhile, only two in five coasters (39 per cent) believe their employer makes best use of their skills, compared to 83 per cent of those excelling. Another contributing factor is the perceived effort that employers make with employees – coasters are almost three times less likely (33 per cent vs 80 per cent) as those who excel to feel recognised for the contribution they make, while almost a third (29 per cent) say no interest is shown in them as a person, compared to just three per cent of those flourishing at work.
The incentive for employers to address this issue is clear – coasters are a far bigger flight risk. Two in five (41 per cent) coasters did not think they would remain in their current job for another 12 months, compared to just one in ten (nine per cent) of those flourishing. According to Oxford Economics, the average cost to replace an employee is around £30,000, so high turnover can have a big financial impact. Happiness may also directly influence productivity, with one study finding that happy employees are as much as 20 per cent more productive than unhappy employees.[3]
Laura Matthews, workplace wellbeing consultant at Barnett Waddingham, said,
Mental health is beginning to get some of the attention it deserves in workplaces and thankfully, more employers are now looking out for the signs of issues such as stress and anxiety. This is great progress, but as part of the same conversation, employers should be thinking more broadly about employee happiness and the positive impact this can have on all areas of the business, from productivity and innovation to profitability and corporate reputation.
A third of our workforce is coasting at the moment, applying just enough effort to get by and go home at the end of the day. Our research shows that these are not lazy or unambitious people, but often those lacking purpose or confidence in their ability to add value. Mobilising this group to start excelling at work is worth a huge amount to UK companies.
Aphrodite is a creative writer and editor specialising in publishing and communications. She is passionate about undertaking projects in diverse sectors. She has written and edited copy for media as varied as social enterprise, art, fashion and education. She is at her most happy owning a project from its very conception, focusing on the client and project research in the first instance, and working closely with CEOs and Directors throughout the consultation process. Much of her work has focused on rebranding; messaging and tone of voice is one of her expertise, as is a distinctively unique writing style in my most of her creative projects. Her work is always driven by the versatility of language to galvanise image and to change perception, as it is by inspiring and being inspired by the wondrous diversity of people with whom paths she crosses cross!
Aphrodite has had a variety of high profile industry clients as a freelancer, and previously worked for a number of years as an Editor and Journalist for Prospects.ac.uk.
Aphrodite is also a professional painter.
