The UKs Unhappiest Workers Are In Scotland - More Workers Than Ever Across Whole Of UK Looking To Quit Their Job

25th September 2024

Workers in Scotland are the most dissatisfied across the UK, according to a major annual study of employee happiness in the workplace.

The third annual Employee Value Report found that regionally workers in Scotland were the least content in the UK, with 31% saying they did not feel valued by their employer.

Across the whole of the UK, the city where workers felt the least satisfaction in the workplace, was Plymouth, in the South West, where over a third - 36% of workers - said they felt underappreciated at work.

Belfast is the UK city where workers feel most valued by their bosses. It not only topped the scores for employee value with 56%, but also scored lowest for worker dissatisfaction with just 17%.

The report also found that millions of workers across the UK feel undervalued by their bosses and are on the brink of quitting their jobs.

Love2shop's Employee Value Report asked workers across the UK how feeling valued affects their work and whether rewards and recognition have a positive impact on them.

Lunchtime yoga, dogs in the office, pizza parties and work nights out are ineffective and reflexive go-to's to solve issues around employee appreciation and value, according to the findings.

Instead, beyond a salary rise, workers actually want more flexible working (20%) and days off (20%), and gift cards or shopping vouchers (18%) to spend on essentials - unchanged from the last three years

Love2shop's Frank Creighton adds: "People are still struggling to get by, which distracts them from their work and adds stress to their lives.

"Yoga sessions and office dog days don't solve that. Rewards that ease their spending worries do. Get that right and our data shows you will improve employee loyalty, work rate and happiness."

As well as the increase in unhappy workers generally this year, the survey also found that the looming employment crisis in education and health refuses to go away despite recent pay settlements.

It revealed 74% of education workers and 71% of healthcare professionals are considering leaving their professions due to feeling undervalued. It is also reflected in the private sector where 89% of finance workers and 85% of retail workers are also seeking ways to leave.

Frank Creighton adds: "Bosses in Scotland would be wise to reflect on these findings. We have been doing the report for a number of years now and the data clearly shows that loyalty, productivity and happiness increase with employers who put the right reward strategies in place. Those businesses grow and thrive more readily than businesses that do not show employees they are valued."

Love2shop's expert team has helped more than 150,000 businesses create effective reward and engagement strategies for more than 50 years.

Download the full report here: Employee Value Report 2024

Find out more about Love2shop Business here: Love2shop Business