A new report shows that one in four blue-collar employees say their workplaces are unsafe. This is a risk at the board level.
According to a new study by Top Employers Institute, more than a quarter (26%) of blue-collar workers feel their workplace safety is inadequate. Many feel unheard when it comes to issues that directly affect their job.
AI and automation are changing frontline roles faster that safety frameworks can keep pace. Parallel to this, there is a severe labour shortage in the construction industry and other skilled trades. The report warns boardrooms to be wary of ignoring the blue-collar workers.
World Economic Forum predicts that 22% of global jobs will be significantly changed by 2030, due to factors such as AI, technological advancements and the green shift. The blue-collar and operational sectors are key to this transformation. These industries will contribute to the projected 170 million jobs globally. Top Employer Institute report found that many of these workers still felt unheard about the most important issues – a disconnect which poses a growing risk to business continuity and employee retention.
The Report, Work’s New Divide: Why the Blue-Collar Voice is Business Critical, draws responses from 2,200 workers in 11 countries, including the UK and US. It also includes Brazil, China, India, Germany, and Brazil. The report reveals the five priorities of this vital workforce, the areas where risks are present, and how leading employers are building future-proofed employee experiences for blue-collar employees that drive engagement and retention.
Signals leaders cannot afford to ignore
- Employee engagement is based on recognition and relationships: Employees who have strong relationships at work are 51% more likely than those without to be engaged
- Ineffective communication threatens trust and safety. Over a quarter (26%) of employees say that their workplace safety measures were inadequate, and 25% have never received information about their job.
- Employees feel ignored but want to be heard. While 80% of employees expect managers to hear their input, only 65% say that their voices are actually heard when making decisions
- Flexibility can be a deal-breaker. 64% of respondents say that they value flexibility over financial rewards, yet nearly one-third have no control over the schedules. This is in stark contrast with white-collar employees.
Adrian Seligman, Executive Board Member at Top Employers Institute, commented:
When a quarter say that safety measures do not meet their needs, this isn’t just a compliance problem, but a failure in communication, culture, and leadership. In our conversations with employers, we’ve found that those who prioritize the blue-collar worker experience see positive results in terms of talent retention, employee engagement, productivity, and performance.
This report includes a number of recommendations for senior leaders, including:
- Increase employee engagement by establishing regular and proactive safety discussions, as well as frontline feedback mechanisms.
- Upskilling operational roles will be key to long-term performance and agility as automation and artificial intelligence (AI) reshape the industry.
- Protect against talent shortages by providing clear growth opportunities that will future-proof your workforce and increase its resilience.
- Include mental health resources, flexible policies and inclusive leave to improve retention, reduce burnout, and signal parity amongst the workforce
Seligman concluded that “this research shows employers who are willing to listen and take action on the concerns of blue-collar workers will be able to build high-performing and resilient organisations.”
According to the research, the next wave in workforce performance will be determined by the way organisations engage and empower these segments of the workforce. Employers that actively address the flexibility, visibility and voices in these roles are best positioned to increase productivity and resilience of their workforce.
The original version of this article One-fourth of blue-collar employees say that their workplace is unsafe. This report shows that it’s a risk at the board level, according to a new study appeared first on Human Resources News.
