WORCESTERSHIRE businesses are being urged to offer free relationship support after more than one in three workers in the West Midlands said their boss thinks work should come before family life.
This is according to a new report from Relate and Relationships Scotland, which concludes that overworked employees’ relationships suffer as the build-up of stress at work takes its toll.
The research also found that:
– 35 per cent of employees in the West Midlands say they feel pressured to work by their manager even when they are ill.
– 23 per cent of employees in the West Midlands say that stress at home adversely affects them at work.
– And 42 per cent of employees said they would like their employer to offer relationship support.
Relate and Relationships Scotland said employees struggling to balance work and family are more likely to become ill, perform less well and resign; but those satisfied with work and work-life balance are more likely to perform better and be more productive.
The Labour of Love or Love vs Labour report calls for employers to aspire to offer flexible working arrangements as default and to provide free relationship support as part of Employee Assistance Programmes.
Relate Worcestershire is supporting the report and urging employers in Worcestershire to take action.
Maxine Sharman, CEO at Relate Worcestershire said: “As this study highlights, work-life balance in this country is shockingly poor and this is hugely damaging for our relationships and overall wellbeing – as well as for productivity.
“That’s why Relate Worcestershire is calling on local employers to take more responsibility for the pressure that stress and lack of work-life balance can put on relationships at home.”
