Company culture is more important than financial reward for 85% of UK workers, according to interim data from a study commissioned by executive search and recruitment firm, Berwick Partners.
Culture is deemed the top and most important factor for wellbeing at work, more than salary and bonuses, career progression and flexible working.
However, two-thirds (60%) of people feel they haven’t yet experienced excellent wellbeing provision in the workplace, with the same number admitting that workplace stress is affecting their personal life, suggest an analysis of findings to date.
Berwick Partners launched its Wellbeing and Mental Health survey in March, with DLA Piper’s employment law team and workplace mental health consultants, InsideOut.
Tahira Raja, an associate partner at Berwick Partners and research lead, said: “The majority of organisations are still on the wellbeing and mental health at work ‘journey’…This demonstrates a real opportunity for forward-thinking, agile businesses that can respond to what the workforce want. Tech sector businesses are frequently cited as providing excellent wellbeing provision but surprisingly, so too are the food manufacturing and petrochemicals industries.”
Among those working for an employer with wellbeing strategies in place, many say they feel uncomfortable using them: “It would seem the perceptions and stigmas associated with mental health and wellbeing still exist, with people saying that to use the support offered by employers would show ‘weakness’,” said Raja.
“Our research suggests that less than 50% of managers feel they have been adequately trained in creating a positive culture around wellbeing and mental health. So perhaps it is less a lack of ‘will’ but rather a lack of ‘skill’, which can – and should – be solved as a priority.”
The full findings and analysis will be published in October to coincide with World Mental Health Day.