NEWS
HOME WORKING DAMAGES PROSPECTS AND MENTAL HEALTH OF YOUNG WORKERS
Home and hybrid working are damaging the career development, workplace relationships and mental wellbeing of younger workers, according to new research from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the UK-based global body for health and safety professionals.
While many older and more established professionals have benefitted from hybrid arrangements, younger workers are struggling to adapt to a system that leaves them feeling they’ve been cast adrift by their employer, disconnected and unsupported.
Around half (48%) of 18-24-year-olds say home and hybrid working makes it harder to build relationships with colleagues and managers. More than two-fifths (43%) fear fewer face-to-face interactions are restricting their personal and professional development. A third feel demotivated.
Even for those who attend the office every day, workplace relationships appear to have suffered, with 39% reporting that the shift towards hybrid and remote models of working has made connecting with colleagues more difficult.
Between 400,000 and 600,000 young people are set to enter the UK workforce after leaving school, college or university, this summer.
Little guidance The absence of in-person mentoring and guidance is compounding the problem: fewer than one in five workers overall (17%) – rising slightly to 19% among 18-24-year-olds – receive constructive feedback two to three times a week. Among entry-level staff, only 16% benefit from regular mentoring, while just one in five hybrid or office-based employees have structured weekly check-ins with their line manager.
The impact on mental health is stark. One in six young workers (17%) say their wellbeing has worsened, while more than a quarter (28%) feel cut off from their workplace community. That figure rises to 36% among entry- level workers and 32% among those at intermediate level.
When asked what would help younger workers succeed, the overall response was clear, with structured check-ins with managers topping the list (45%), followed by wellbeing and mental health support (42%), clearer career development pathways (40%), in-person mentoring or coaching
(35%) and more opportunities for face- to-face collaboration (35%).
While hybrid working is IOSH’s preferred work model, IOSH President Kelly Nicoll believes businesses need to do more to ensure their newest workers are properly engaged, so they can reach their individual potential and help businesses thrive.
“Managers need to build in more structured supervision time and regular check-ins with young workers and hybrid workers than only having contact once a month,” she said.
“They need to make room for daily informal catch-ups and also set weekly and monthly one-to-one sessions to cover performance and address wider issues such as health, safety and wellbeing, as well as mentoring, coaching and career development,” Kelly added.
“Mental health risk management should be fully integrated into occupational safety systems and management practices need to be updated to reflect the evolving demands of a multigenerational, hybrid workforce.”
https://iosh.com IDEAGEN EXPANDS SAFETY SOLUTIONS WITH REACTEC ACQUISITION
high-risk industries such as mining, construction and manufacturing.
Reactec's workplace wearables and cloud-based analytics enable the management of workplace hazards such as exposure to vibration, dust, noise and proximity to hazards.
Ideagen, a global specialist in compliance and risk management software, has further strengthened its solutions to support worker health and safety with the acquisition of Reactec, a provider of innovative wearable technology with intuitive data analytics.
This acquisition marks a pivotal step in Ideagen's mission to enhance safety and operational excellence for its customers, particularly those in
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Ben Dorks, CEO of Ideagen, said: “This is a significant milestone for Ideagen as we continue to invest in technologies that address real-world challenges faced by our customers.
"Reactec’s wearable technology and data analytics are a perfect complement to our portfolio, putting cutting-edge tools directly into the hands of those who need it most. Together, we are setting new standards for workplace safety and risk mitigation.”
Jacqui McLaughlin, CEO of Reactec, commented: “At Reactec, our core mission has always been to protect workers and provide actionable insights that foster healthier and safer work environments.
"Becoming part of Ideagen allows us to extend our reach and provide even greater value to organisations that are forward-thinking in their approach to enhancing the health and wellbeing of their workers.
“We, like Ideagen, seek to prevent and not simply mitigate risk. We can totally see the value our technology can bring to Ideagen's existing customer base and look forward to working with them to deliver real impact.”
www.ideagen.com
www.reactec.com
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