With record employment level in most G7 countries and the increase in economic growth, little attention is given to analysing the quality of work created. Creating more jobs is paramount to make a nation prosperous and for the redistribution of wealth. Some of us were taught the quantitative measure of labour demand and supply in economics.
The chart shows increasing economic growth and employment rate in the UK.
UK GDP and Employment Rate, 2010-2018
Qualitative measures regarding the quality of work is also important for a happier workforce and society. Work should be evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively for measurable improvements and a balanced society. Personally, I do know that if I am happy at work, I feel and perform better both at work and home. Same goes for most of my family and friends.
Providing good work for all citizens should be a national strategic objective in every modern society. There is a consensus among existing studies that with the right legislation, achieving the aim of good jobs lies more with employers.
Some organisations are pioneers in creating better work and some have been recognised for it. Examples include ‘The Guardian Top Employers UK’ and ‘The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies’. The Sunday Times, for instance, use responses from existing staff of companies of various sizes to evaluate their performance for the award. According to The Sunday Times, businesses on the list are firms and organisations who are going the extra mile to make their workplace a thriving environment. Human Resource managers design and implement strategies for making workplaces better and enjoyable for employees to thrive.
The Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices recommends seven steps that could be used to provide fair and decent work based on their research. One of the steps identified in the report which articulate employers role in providing good jobs states that:
“The best way to achieve better work is not national regulation but responsible corporate governance, good management and strong employment relations within the organisation, which is why it is important that companies are seen to take good work seriously and are open about their practices and that all workers are able to be engaged and heard”Most people will agree with this recommendation concerning the critical role played by effective corporate governance, good management and strong employee relations in workplaces. These are the top-level overview, and it is essential to analyse these more granularly to have actionable points and insights on the topic. In other words, what do they mean for an average employee in reality? What factors indicate that good work is taken seriously and how can all workers be engaged and heard?
This article will be highlighting five primary attributes that qualify a job as ‘Good’. It is not an exhaustive list but can be used as a starting point in examining features that should be present in a good job. It can also be used as a guide by executives and decision makers in improving the workplace and in designing training courses for people managers. More importantly, an employee can use this to evaluate their work life and can also use the information to know how they can contribute to making jobs good for all.
1. Flexibility
Since the financial crisis in 2008, more workers have moved towards flexible work due to the loss of jobs that were deemed permanent before the crash. The lost can be attributed to companies going bust or downsizing. Creating flexible jobs goes beyond job security. Flexible jobs can be used to achieve inclusion and broader participation by a diverse group of workers, manage candidate shortage from an ageing population and to provide multi-jobs that people can fit around their lifestyle and availability.People of working age are at different stages in life which require different needs and priorities. Flexible jobs will allow people to choose when they work which might be outside of the traditional 9 to 5 system. Especially for people with young children or other caring responsibilities, flexibility will be a crucial determinant when deciding to take a job.
The progress made in the last few years led to the emergence of the gig economy which has grown tremendously in the last few years. Gig economy enables employees to have more than one job, mostly facilitated by platforms powered by technology like people renting out rooms on Airbnb, driving for uber, or selling goods on eBay or Amazon.
Research conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) reported that 58% of the 1.3 million gig workers in the UK also have permanent jobs. Therefore, a good job should give every person in the working age group a choice on how and when they work to fit with other priorities in their lives.
UK employers are responding to this trend by creating more flexible jobs. A recent article stated that 28% of UK businesses plan to hire temporary or contract staff in the next twelve months. This trend will increase in coming years with the digital and technical skills shortage.
2. Good Compensation
Pay will always be an indicator of good work because money is still the most widely accepted legal tender around the world. Blockchain will change the landscape in the coming years. A good pay should provide income security, sick pay, pension contribution, less reliance on benefits for working people, maternity and paternity pay. Companies with excellent benefits package will provide a good working environment, although this is not always the case in reality. A good working environment will give employees autonomy over the pace of their work, involve employees in decision-making, convey a feeling of control and participation.Wage is important especially for those in part-time roles with no guarantee of work from week to week than permanent employees. With the availability of more data, it is easier for employers to research current salary scale in their industry, which could be used to inform the salary offered. With such information, employers and workers can know if their income in on the lower, middle or higher scale of the spectrum. Over time with more data on salary and a reliable benchmark source, certain types of discrimination like the gender pay gap and ethnicity pay gap will be reduced.
3. Progression
Progress at work is vital to develop employees potential to the fullest and to reward hard work. Good communication is required to enable workers to flourish and engage at work. An engaged employee will be happy at work and more productive. Good work should have work progression and career development routes.4. Learning and Development
Training activities is good for both career and personal development. Good work will provide adequate training to develop employee skills and knowledge, which leads to better performance on the job. Such programmes can also be used to upskill and reskill workers in line with the business need. Training required will vary widely from one individual to another but gaining accredited qualifications will help both current and future work.5. Technology
Technology is reshaping all business models with most businesses having a digital strategy following tremendous growth in AI, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing and the Internet of Things. The growth and increased awareness explain why two in five companies in the UK now consider digitalisation critical factors for success.Good work should provide all employees with needed technology to succeed in their role through the automation of repetitive tasks, to focus on value-adding and creative activities.
Businesses can leverage the use of technology to provide data analytics to both strategic and operational staff, to facilitate smarter and fact-based decisions. Automated dashboards can be used to provide access to information obtained from data to all employees, with step-by-step training on how to interpret them.
To conclude, It is evident that both the quantitative and qualitative measures of good work are critical for building a balanced and functional society. Most of these points are intertwined and should be part of a framework used to design and evaluate jobs. Providing good work will improve employee well being, mental health and increase overall productivity. It is a collective goal and should be taken seriously by all players to create good jobs and a better society. Above all, including all members of the community will increase the talent pool for jobs and overall economic growth.
The dream is for all work to be good with engaged and happy employees, helping employers to realise business goals and contributing to social and economic advancements.
References
- Good Work: The Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices. (2017). Available on:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/627671/good-work-taylor-review-modern-working-practices-rg.pdf.
- The Sunday Times Best 100 Companies. Available on: https://appointments.thetimes.co.uk/article/best100companies/
- WHO; Mental health in the workplace. Available on: http://origin.who.int/mental_health/in_the_workplace/en/
- Gig economy booms as war for digital talent intensifies. Available on: ttps://www.thehrdirector.com/business-news/skills/gig-economy-digital-talent/?utm_content=80027727&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin
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