Report: Unlocking employee productivity: The role of health and wellbeing in manufacturing

Despite high investment to drive up productivity in the manufacturing sector, few employers invest in psychological and mental health initiatives that, research shows, can also improve productivity.

This report, by the Institute for Employment Studies on behalf of EFF, The Manufacturers’ Organisation and Westfield Health, examines the wider relationship between wellbeing and productivity.  

Key findings:

• The report outlines a compelling evidence base for manufacturers to invest in the health and wellbeing of their employees, with potential productivity improvements of 10 per cent.
• More than 60 per cent of manufacturers intervene to assess the risk of physical injury and to promote better physical safety, fewer than 15 per cent assess the risk that work will damage mental health and only one in five invest in measures to promote mental health.
• Almost 80 per cent of the companies acknowledged that productivity improvement was an important reason for investing in employee wellbeing overall. However, fewer than eight per cent reported that it was the most important reason.

The report is based on a survey of around 100 UK manufacturers, a literature review and employer case studies.