8 OUT OF 10 WORKERS FEEL SO UNDERVALUED THEY’RE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB

NEARLY eight out of people currently in work are looking for a new job because they feel undervalued by their bosses, according to a new national study.

And that’s bad news for employers, already feeling the stretch when it comes to recruitment.

Nearly four-fifths (79%) of employees who feel undervalued are looking for a job elsewhere, according to the study by Appreciate Business Services, with the figure rising to 90% among the youngest demographic (18-24).

Employees in the UK cite a lack of acknowledgement for hard work (36%), poor pay (34%) and a lack of loyalty (32%) as key issues in the workplace.

Some 10 million Brits feel undervalued at work, a new survey has revealed.

The 10 million figure means a whopping one third of all workers in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland feel undervalued.

Aspects of a job that help workers feel most valued include good pay (57%), fair and flexible working hours (51%), and being recognised and rewarded your boss (46%).

The national survey was conducted by Appreciate Business Services, the home of Love2shop, to lay bare the reality of employee unhappiness.

Workers in London and Northern Ireland feel the least appreciated, with an average value rating of 5/10, while employees in the South West feel most valued, with an average rating of 6.5/10.

Elsewhere, 92% of workers who feel undervalued in the capital are currently looking for a new job.

The study, titled the Appreciate Report, reveals one proven way to help firms retain staff and make them feel valued is to give spontaneous gifts.

UK companies spontaneously gift employees an average of just 1.3 times a year, according to the survey, despite workers claiming it must occur 2.3 times a year in order for them to feel valued.

Frank Creighton, Director of Business Development at ABS, said: “The extent to which UK workers feel undervalued and under-appreciated is alarming.

“The fact that one-third of staff feel undervalued should be a massive wake-up call for UK business, particularly in light of the report, which found almost half (49%) of people would feel a heightened sense of loyalty to their employer if they felt valued by them.

“We do understand it isn’t always easy for employers to know when to reward their employees – or by how much. That’s why we’ve compiled the Appreciate Report, which offers valuable insight when it comes to making staff feel valued while maintaining and increasing productivity levels.”