- BT Business finds the average UK worker takes 9.4 days off sick each year
- Retail and finance workers say they lack sufficient training on emerging tools
- Inappropriate software could increase stress and lead to mental health problems
New research has claimed that improving connectivity in the UK workplace could increase employee productivity by around nine days a year by the end of the decade – a not-so-insignificant figure, given that the average UK worker takes 9.4 sick days a year.
Around three-quarters of workers surveyed in BT’s new Future Unlocked report acknowledge that new technologies, such as AI tools, could increase their productivity, and two-thirds believe it would also improve work-life balance.
The report details how retail, finance and healthcare could benefit the most from technological transformations.
The right software could prevent sick days
BT denounced the NHS’s ten-year plan to move from analogue to digital, citing worker frustration over unreliable tools, outdated technology and IT frustrations.
For finance and retail workers, the need for more training is clear: 59% of frontline finance workers say they have not 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, and workplace stress continues to rise.
Furthermore, four in five (79%) workers report moderate to high levels of stress at work, and many cite inadequate technological and productivity aids.
“We live in an increasingly digital age – only by embracing modern technologies such as AI and cloud, and enabling fast, secure and reliable connectivity, will we see a healthy increase in productivity,” explained Chris Sims, commercial director at BT Business.
At the moment, only 7% of UK workers consider their workplace technology to be “cutting edge” – with ten times as many (77%) demanding more training and upskilling before the shift to AI.
“By focusing on improving connectivity over the next five years, businesses will not only boost productivity but also take practical steps to improve staff retention and the customer experience,” Sims added.
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