Employers don't understand how to raise productivity

Almost half (45%) of UK employees say their employer doesn’t understand how to improve productivity, according to research from Canada Life Group Insurance.

The UK’s productivity has fallen behind the average for the other six members of the G7 group of industrial nations by 15% when it comes to productivity performance, suggesting a new strategy is required for the UK to keep up.

Research from YouGov in 2015 found the UK has the fifth longest working week (42.9 hours), ahead of Germany (13th place) and France (25th place). However, France and Germany are significantly ahead of the UK in terms of output per hours worked.

Almost nine in ten (88%) of the respondents rated their levels of productivity at 70% or above. Of the three quarters (76%) of staff who feel their productivity is being negatively impacted at work, a fifth (22%) blame workplace culture including poor management and lack of recognition. This is topped only by a negative working environment (29%).