Based on extensive research and survey data, the article presents a sobering portrayal of the world of work for millions of people today. Most alarmingly, it cites a Gallup poll of workers across 142 countries, finding that a mere 13% of people feel engaged at work. Even in advanced economies, like the US, the figure is only 30%. “For most of us”, the authors conclude, “work is a depleting, dispiriting experience, and in some obvious ways, it’s getting worse”.
The majority of us are fortunate enough to have choices in life and to enjoy a certain level of independence and freedom, which we are able to put to the service of others. I certainly count myself lucky that over a long career I have never really felt the way the authors describe (apart from the occasional bad day or disappointing boss). I have strived to keep a life balance and work has always been an important and integral part of that. I have, in particular, drawn strength and resilience from being able to link work with my own personal purpose – namely that business is there to serve the needs of society, not the other way around. I know that many of you feel the same way, which is one of the reasons why the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan is becoming such an emblem of our business and why it is being embraced and adopted so enthusiastically across all parts of the company.
Nevertheless, none of us can be blind to the pressures that are building, and which the authors sum up well as follows: “Demand for our time is increasingly exceeding our capacity – draining us of the energy we need to bring our skill and talent fully to life. Increased competitiveness and a leaner, post-recession work force add to the pressures. The rise of digital technology is exposing us to an unprecedented flood of information and requests that we feel compelled to read and respond to at all hours of the day and night”.
In the increasingly VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) world we often speak about, where competition is intense and where every sale is hard won, we cannot simply wish these kind of pressures away. But we can do something to alleviate their effects and to help ensure work becomes the kind of rewarding and rounding experience that we all desire.
Interestingly, and more positively, the New York Times article quotes a survey of 12,000 employees across a broad range of companies and industries in which, it turns out, employees report being vastly more satisfied and productive when four of their core needs are met: physical, being able to regularly renew and recharge at work; emotional, feeling valued and appreciated; mental, having a chance to focus on the most important tasks and actually get work done; and spiritual, doing more of what they do best and feeling connected to a higher purpose at work.
You can debate the actual terms used, but the message is a clear and powerful one. They also provide a helpful lens through which to assess what we are doing at Unilever. Let me take each in turn.
Physical. A healthy body, healthy mind may be a cliché, but for good reason – it’s true, which is why those up early enough will often find me pounding the treadmill in the gym in London! Seriously though, it’s also why I have been such a passionate advocate of the Lamplighter physical well-being programme, which now exists across a majority of our sites. I am also encouraged to see a growing number of sites with well-equipped gyms or access to such facilities, not to mention the growing number of employees taking part – often in groups – in marathons, bike races, mountain climbing and the like to raise money for causes they believe in. I am still in awe of the group of research scientists I met shortly after they had cycled all the way from Port Sunlight to Blackfriars to raise money for the charity, Malaria No More.
Emotional. We all need to feel valued so please don’t wait for a PDP discussion to show your appreciation to others. A simple ‘thank you’ or ‘well done’ or the occasional little handwritten note takes little time or effort – or any HR process. Just do it, when deserved. These simple gestures have a bigger impact on people’s sense of trust and well-being than any other behavior, especially from our leaders. Just ask those unsung heroes who stand so proud and tall when their remarkable contributions are marked each year at the time of the annual Change Leaders Conference.
Also, please take time at critical stages in people’s lives to acknowledge what they are going through. One of the biggest events is becoming a parent, which is why the Maternity and Paternity Support (MAPS) initiative we introduced is so important, helping both employees and line managers to manage the transition in a way that maximizes the joyfulness of the experience.
Mental. I was not surprised to see the authors suggest that one of the biggest frustrations people feel at work is the sheer inability to be able to get on and do their jobs. After all, you’ve been telling us that for a while. And it’s true. People’s mental health can often be undermined by a proliferation of petty rules, unnecessary distractions, choking complexity and a second-guessing of decisions. It is the key reason why we introduced Project Half with the aim of radically simplifying our processes and removing non value-added work, freeing up time and energy to concentrate on what’s important. It also explains our commitment to Agile Working and to enabling people to work in ways that maximise the contribution they are able to make.
Of course mental health is a complex condition and can be the source of many factors, which is why I have been pleased to see the holistic programme introduced successfully last year in the UK now being adopted more widely across the company. The first step is to be able to recognise the symptoms and to break down the taboos that so often prevent open – and potentially restorative – discussions from taking place. I fully endorse the programme. We can be proud of our leaders driving it.
Finally, Spiritual, or what I would prefer perhaps to call purpose-driven – the idea that we are connected at work to something deeper than ourselves, than our individual unit or indeed the company-at-large. This is the philosophy that underpins the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan and the idea that by setting a bold agenda and by working differently we can grow our business and be an agent for social change and environmental progress. Many are coming round to this way of thinking, the only growth model I believe that consumers – and indeed employees – will come to accept in the future. Expect to hear more, for example, of the so-called ‘third metric’, championed by my friend, the author and entrepreneur, Arianna Huffington in her book of the same name. In the stool of life, two legs represent ambition and material gain, yet the third – a sense of purpose and well-being – is what we actually need to be fulfilled and stable – and not fall over. Worth thinking about and a fascinating read for those who are interested to know more.
Our employee engagement scores last year were among the best ever. We are the most desired employer in a majority of the key markets in which we operate. We are the third most sought-after employer among job-seekers on LinkedIn. And a recent global survey of sustainability leaders not only ranked us as the company doing most to secure a sustainable future (for the fourth year running), but found that our lead over other companies is actually increasing.
In short, we have nothing to be ashamed about. We are widely admired for what we are trying to achieve. Yet we must strive constantly in today’s increasingly interconnected and pressurised world to ensure we are not leaving people behind on the journey.
So, take the time to look after yourself – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Take the time to think about the impact your behaviour might be having on others. And take time to look out for the needs – and acknowledge the contribution of – those around you.
That’s how we continue to build an organisation of which we can all be proud. Thank you for what you have already achieved.
Personal growth and a sense of purpose in all we do.
Carpe diem – seize the moment!
As always, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for reading.
