Workers Unprepared for Unexpected Changes

While there have been many conversations about the resilience of particular industries, a new survey, Resilience Nation, from Ideagen looks at this attribute through the eyes of employees. 

The company interviewed over 4,000 people across the US, UK and Australia, working in industries essential to our daily protection and asked about their personal feelings and workplace observations.

The research showed that workers are being asked to work longer hours, with larger workloads which is leading to a decreased enthusiasm towards work. 

Key findings identified in the report include: 

• Resilience faltering: Industrial workers ability to respond to changes in the workplace is diminished, with 17% feeling less resilient than last year.  

• Workforce under strain: While workers' resilience falters, demands on staff are increasing, workers reported longer working hours (52%), increasing workloads (58%) and a decreased enthusiasm towards work (54%). 

• The productivity problem: These challenges are leading to decreased enthusiasm to work (48%) which is having a knock-on effect to business productivity as 39% admit to cutting corners at work and 46% are considering leaving to work in other sectors.  

The report offers the following recommendations:

 Health and safety improvements are necessary, especially in fields like construction, engineering and healthcare. Comprehensive safety programs and mental health support are essential.

Investment in talent is crucial. Organizations must promote professional development through upskilling and reskilling initiatives. Prioritizing employee welfare with flexible working options and manageable workloads will retain talent and enhance job satisfaction and productivity.

Investment in technology is also vital.  Respondents indicated a need to improve data access and utilize AI to streamline operations. Investing in advanced data analytics platforms and AI-driven tools will alleviate workloads, boost efficiency, and help manage tasks effectively. This is key to counteracting the ‘big squeeze’ and improving agility

 Address siloes and enhance data integrity.  Fragmented practices and incomplete data undermine efficiency and regulatory compliance in sectors like pharmaceuticals, life sciences and energy. Leveraging digital platforms and integrated data management approaches can overcome this issue.

Untie the red tape. Simplify regulatory compliance where possible. Financial services and education sectors need better support to navigate regulations. Streamlining compliance processes will mitigate risk and allow firms to focus on core activities

“By implementing these recommendations, companies can create resilient, adaptive, and future-proof organizations capable of thriving amid constant change,” the report concludes.