Three in four electrotechnical workers (76 per cent) say they prefer working for a direct employer rather than a labour agency, according to new survey findings commissioned by the Joint Industry Board.
Of those who say they preferred direct employment, almost two in three respondents (62 per cent) said it was to ‘enjoy their full employment rights’. A similar number say they preferred ‘steady employment’ (63 per cent) and ‘valued the holidays and additional benefits available’ (59 per cent).
Just one in six respondents (16 per cent) say they favour agency labour work over direct employment. Over four in 10 of those who preferred agency work (43 per cent) said it was due to the flexibility, while nearly three in 10 (29 per cent) said it was because they could earn more.
At the trade body the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) Director of Employment Alex Meikle said it was time for a re-balancing that ensures worker productivity is maximised. He said: “These findings overwhelmingly show that electrotechnical workers are more content and likely to be more productive working directly for an employer. While agency workers can be a necessary source of flexible labour for businesses, the industry should take a hard look at the value of temporary employment.”
Some 422 electrotechnical workers from across the UK responded to the survey, during the first quarter of the year. The ECA points to its recent submission to the UK Government’s industrial strategy consultation noted that ‘higher (employee) engagement is associated with higher performance’, and urged the government to consider using the procurement process to improve employer-worker collaboration.
The 2009 Government-commissioned Macleod report found that ‘the correlation between engagement, well-being and performance is repeated too often to be a coincidence’. This view indicates the value of employee engagement and support initiatives – such as occupational health assessments and CPD training – to ensuring worker productivity.
Another recent ECA survey on the value of corporate social responsibility found that half of electrotechnical businesses said that having a CSR policy in place meant they were more likely to retain and recruit staff.
