Low pay tops reasons for unhappiness at work

The key sources of workplace unhappiness are low pay (36%), little or no variety in job role (25%) and unpaid overtime (22%), according to research by workforce management organisation Kronos.

The Forgotten Workforce survey, which questioned more than 2,500 employees, found that feelings about low pay vary by sector, with 42% of respondents in the hospitality, leisure and retail sectors unhappy about their salaries and only 26% of respondents in the manufacturing sector saying the same.

More than half (59%) of respondents would like more flexibility in the hours they work, while almost a quarter (24%) would like more accurate wages that reflect the hours they work.

Neil Pickering (pictured), director at Kronos, said: “The question of remuneration, that universal panacea, deserves consideration.

“Feelings of low pay vary by sector. While 42% of respondents in the hospitality/leisure and retail sectors were unhappy about their salaries, this number falls to only 26% in manufacturing.

”Beyond earnings, however, no single reason for dissatisfaction stands out, suggesting a more general feeling of malaise about how employees are treated.