We spend more time working than doing anything else. The quality of our relationships at work is one of the most important sources of our wellbeing – as important as our relationships with family and friends. Employment gives meaning and structure to our lives as much as income, which when removed – say, through joblessness – plunges us into depression.
But all is not well in the world of work. People are excessively micromanaged, rarely made to feel appreciated and too often are poorly and unfairly rewarded, with job insecurity rife. Enforcement of labour law in all its dimensions, from unfair dismissal to safety standards, is weak and under-resourced. We may value work but, as wellbeing expert Professor Richard Layard finds, it is remarkably under-loved, only marginally more enjoyed than being ill. Change this and the dark mood that suffuses the country would be lifted, and also help trigger the much needed rise in productivity.
