- BT Business finds the average UK worker takes 9.4 days of sick leave each year
- Retail and finance workers say they are not adequately trained in emerging tools
- Inappropriate software could add stress and lead to mental health days
New research claims that improving workplace connectivity in the UK could increase employee productivity by around nine days a year by the end of the decade – a significant figure, with the average UK worker taking 9.4 sick days a year.
Around three-quarters of workers surveyed in BT’s new Future Unlocked report agree that new technologies, such as AI tools, could increase their productivity, and two-thirds believe they would also improve their work-life balance.
The report details how retail, finance and healthcare could benefit most from technological transformations.
Proper Software Could Avoid Sick Days
BT has hit out at the NHS’s 10-year plan to move from analogue to digital, citing workers’ frustration with unreliable tools, outdated technology and IT frustrations.
For finance and retail workers, the need for continuing education is clear: 59% of frontline financial workers say they haven’t received enough and 19% of retail workers are considering quitting.
According to research cited in the BT report, 41% of long-term absences and a third of short-term leaves can be attributed to mental health, with workplace stress continuing to rise.
Additionally, four in five workers (79%) report moderate to high levels of stress at work, with many citing inadequate technology and productivity supports.
“We live in an increasingly digital age; only by adopting modern technologies such as AI and the cloud, and providing them with fast, secure and reliable connectivity, will we see a healthy increase in productivity,” explained Chris Sims, commercial director of BT Business.
Currently, only 7% of UK workers consider their workplace technology to be “cutting edge” – 10 times more (77%) require more training and upskilling in anticipation of the move to AI.
“By focusing on improving connectivity over the next five years, businesses will not only increase productivity, but also take practical steps to improve employee retention and customer experience,” Sims added.
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