Third of all UK employees feel undervalued at work

One-third of all employees in the UK feel undervalued at work, according to new national research revealed today.

The research, conducted by Appreciate Business Services, the home of Love2shop, puts the number of employees who feel undervalued across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland at 10 million people.

Nearly four-fifths (79%) of employees who feel undervalued are looking for a job elsewhere, with that figure increasing to nine out of ten (90%) among the youngest demographic aged 18-24.

The research, which forms part of the ‘Appreciate Report’, lays bare the reality of employee happiness in the UK.

Workers in London and Northern Ireland feel the least appreciated, with an average value rating of five out of 10 closely followed by those the East Midlands (5.5). Employees in the South West feel most valued (6.5), ahead of people in the West Midlands (6.1) and the North West (5.9).

Elsewhere, 92% of workers who feel undervalued in the capital are currently looking for a new job, compared to only 42% of the same people in Yorkshire and the Humber.

The Appreciate Report reveals that one proven way to help retain staff and make them feel valued is for firms to give spontaneous gifts.

UK companies spontaneously gift employees an average of just 1.3 times a year, despite workers claiming it should be 2.3 times a year if employers really want to make staff 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.”