Those of us who work in the UK currently have the longest working weeks in the whole of Europe totalling around 82,000 hours over our entire lifetime, talk about a well-being buster.
Shockingly (or un-shockingly for some of us) during the time we’re working we only spend around 4% more time with our families than we do with our work colleagues. When you consider how much of our time is spent working it becomes clear that managing our well-being at work is incredibly important.
So, when you’re searching for new jobs its worth taking notice of the things an employer has in place to take care of your well-being in and out of work. There can be a lot to sift through so here are some of the top things to look out for during your next job hunt.
What’s in the contract?
Checking your contractual benefits is the best place to start. The most obvious one is your holiday allowance, the legal minimum in the UK is 28 days including public holidays (if you work 5 days a week). However, the average is 33.5 days, over a week more than the legal minimum! If your time away from work is important to you then a company who gives a fair amount of holiday is a company you may want to work for.
For those of us who want to start a family or grow the one you have, make sure you are aware of the parental leave offered by the company. A well-paid maternity package can be a huge draw to a company and even rarer is a company who gives fair paternity leave as well.
Your hours are also key to making sure you have a healthy work life balance so make sure you’re aware before you decide to take a job.
What’re the Benefits?
People often forget that employment is a two-way street, you deserve to get back as much as the company does and sometimes wages aren’t enough to balance this out. However, lots of companies offer some benefits to support you both in and out of work.
Check if they provide a perks scheme, these often come with cashback options on your shopping, discounts and sometimes even access to private health care or counselling.
One of the most important things a job can offer you is the opportunity to grow and learn within the company. Speak to your prospective employers about the training they provide and whether there is scope for you to have some say so in the courses you think would be beneficial to your progression.
Culture
Culture can feel like a bit of a recruitment buzz word, but how you fit into a company culture can be the difference between loving your job and dreading turning up every morning.
A company’s culture can range from a team-based approach with everyone working collaboratively or maybe a more traditional management structure. There isn’t a ‘right’ company culture just the best one for you. Think about how you like to work and find companies who work the same way. Your workday will be so much more fulfilling in an environment you’re suited for.
You can try to figure out the ‘culture’ by looking through their website, do some research on websites like Glassdoor and make sure you make full use of your chance to ask questions during the interview stage (Another helpful blog on that here…)
You may or may not have the luxury of choosing your next employer based on benefits or culture but if you can you may find that the right company will improve your well-being not just at work but in your whole life. Check our Pirkx, they might just have something to help you?
The Business Transformation Network has shared this article in partnership with Imployable.
