Employees want to achieve a healthy work-life balance this year

A new Acas study of the key issues for working lives in 2019 claims that the biggest issues for employers will be finding skilled workers (53 percent), productivity (36 percent) and technological change (36 percent). On a more personal level, the most important issues in employees’ working life will be balancing work and home life (53 percent), staying healthy and feeling well (51 percent) and job security (44 percent). The poll found that despite people wanting a more flexible working life, nearly half of workers (49 percent) believe that the use of gig workers will stay about the same in the year ahead.

Acas Chief Executive, Susan Clews, said: “Matthew Taylor’s Review on modern working practices provoked a lot of debate around what good work should look like and our poll reveals that around half of employees feel that the use of gig workers will stay about the same in the year ahead.

“Whilst there’s been a lot of activity to help promote the benefits of flexible working, our study shows that six out of ten workers think flexible working arrangements will stay about the same in 2019.

“Brexit is the main topic that’s in the headlines at the moment, which is understandable. But interestingly it is not a major concern amongst UK workers who took part in our poll. Two thirds are confident that their workplaces can get people with the right skills after the UK leaves the European Union.”

The poll also found that:

• The vote is split on whether mental health will be taken as seriously as physical health by employers – with 46% agreeing and 43% disagreeing
• 65% of workers are confident their workplace will be able to hire people with the right skills after Brexit
• Only 12% of workers are worried that their job could be done by a machine in the future.
• Around two thirds (65 percent) of workers are confident that their workplace will be able to hire people with the right skills after the UK has left the European Union.

The full policy paper Can work be both productive and good? includes further findings and is available here: www.acas.org.uk/policydiscussion

Acas is part of the Government’s flexible working taskforce, which aims to improve opportunities for flexible working.