For many businesses, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of workplace wellbeing initiatives. As various sectors have been affected in different ways, it is important for business leaders to understand how the future will look for their businesses and their workforce.

Whilst the physical hazards of working on a construction site are usually the main health and safety focus, the past year has shown that the mental health and workplace wellbeing of manufacturing and construction employees is just as prevalent.

A study by Westfield Health, a health insurance and wellbeing solutions provider, asked 1,500 people across the UK about their future work plans and wellbeing needs. They wanted to understand how the workforce is feeling and what businesses can do to help them adapt. How can businesses move forward to create modern and adaptable environments which enable their people to thrive?

The report explores what to expect from the 'new normal', how the return to work might differ across sectors, and the impact of the right support on wellbeing, engagement, and productivity.

Manufacturing and Construction Key Findings:

• 24% of manufacturing and construction companies have introduced flexible start and end times – more than any other sector.
  
  
• 28% of employees in the construction sector are unhappy with their employer's approach to flexible working.
  
  
• Employees in the manufacturing and construction sector are the least anxious about going into work, with 40% saying they're worried, compared to the UK average of 51%.
  
  

General Key Findings:

•  66% of all employees surveyed want more well-being support from their employer.
  
  
• 89% of employees are happy with their proposed new way of working.
  
  
• 51% of people are still nervous about their return to work. Has this potentially increased since the easing of restrictions alongside high numbers of Covid cases?
  
  
• 31% say their employer is not introducing or extending any form of flexible working.
  
  
• 38% of people who have been working from home feel wellbeing support has improved their productivity.
  
  
• Just over a quarter (26%) of employees say their company currently does not provide support on key wellbeing initiatives.
  
  
• Only 11% of companies with under 50 employees offer mental health support, while in companies with over 250 employees, this rises to 40%.
  
  
• Just 6% of those working from home felt less engaged due to flexible working arrangements (31% of all employees feel more engaged because of flexible working).

Source: Westfield Health