HR Industry News

DWP calls for debate about good work

— 01 March 2007 —

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) wants to encourage the government, business and charities to start a debate about what constitutes ‘good work’.

According to DWP Minister Lord McKenzie, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that work is beneficial to physical and mental health but there is no widely accepted understanding or definition of what good work is, despite considerable presumed knowledge.

He hopes that greater understanding of good work can lead to greater social and financial inclusion for many people in the UK.

Lord McKenzie has kicked off a series of events which it is hoped will create a framework for employers to ensure their workplaces are healthy and efficient.

He said he knows that good work is beneficial for individuals, communities, and the economy but it is important to figure out exactly what good work is, so that workplaces are happy, healthy and productive.

“This may necessitate a radical rethink,” he added, “including addressing outdated work practices, increasing flexible working, cutting red tape, and promoting effective and open work cultures.”

The call for a debate comes in the wake of a DWP published review which concluded that good work is extremely beneficial and showed that when people return to work from unemployment, their health improves by as much as unemployment damages it.

Ceridian’s HR director, Jo Jobson commented on the initiative, saying: “It’s problematic to identify one single type of workplace as ideal, because individuals need different kinds of stimulation, are motivated differently, and require different working conditions.”

“Most organisations can identify the basic hygiene factors around what constitutes a good workplace, and it’s also a good idea to think of the ergonomics involved: Is your workplace well-designed, does it represent the culture of the organisation, does it allow free flow? These are all pertinent questions, which may help identify what you need to stimulate good work in your own working environment. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.”

For a fresh perspective on what you could improve at your premises, why not obtain feedback from your visitors and customers, as well as your employees? You might actually get quite a different perspective on your working environment than your employees…

Jo Jobson, Head of Human Resources at Ceridian UK Ltd.

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