In all six sub-dimensions surveyed, women were significantly less satisfied than men in 2021, writes the association on the publication of the survey results for 2021. In 2017, this was only the case for the “stress” criterion.
Men, on the other hand, would have perceived the relief due to the corona pandemic such as longer rest periods, health protection measures and improved equipment and working environment – for example the opportunity to work from home – more than women.
Every fifth person questioned was of the opinion that women and men did not have the same opportunities for advancement in management positions. There are also significant differences in terms of equal pay. The Covid 19 crisis has exacerbated the discrimination “which had already severely impaired the lives and careers of women”, writes Travail.Suisse.
The barometer clearly shows that much more ambitious political measures need to be taken to achieve equality.
The survey also highlighted how employees can combine their job with other areas of life. Accordingly, more than three quarters of employees stated that they can combine their work well with their private life. A third is often or very often too exhausted to take care of private matters.
This problem is particularly noticeable in households with children or in people who are still caring for relatives. There is still a lack of suitable structures for family and school-based childcare and, given the aging population, there is also a lack of support for family carers. According to the survey, only a third of these are supported by employers.
In any case, the stress of the employees is at a “worrying level”. Almost 45 percent of employees would often feel stressed by their work. The employers have to reduce the work intensity so that the health of their employees does not suffer, demands Travail.Suisse.
Overall, the seventh “Good Work Barometer” 2021 suggests in most areas that working conditions were rated better than in previous years. The employees rated a number of criteria significantly better than in previous years.
However, Travail.Suisse attributes this to the time of the survey. The survey was carried out in June 2021, when many measures to protect against the corona virus were relaxed. It is therefore not surprising that the survey participants rated the short-term perspective and thus job security significantly better than in previous years when asked about fear of losing their jobs. However, almost half of the employees still fear that they would not find a comparable job if they lost their jobs.
Travail.Suisse identified a similar phenomenon in the survey on health protection. It seems plausible that, as a result of the Covid 19 situation, the health protection measures at the workplace were assessed as improved – and that employees were less likely to come to work sick. However, it remains to be seen whether this is a sustainable change.
The respondents also commented on the topic of home office. Accordingly, around half of those surveyed were regularly sent to the home office during the pandemic. It shows that the workplace is a social place and not just the place of work. After all, the disadvantages of home office were assessed more negatively after a long period of time than in the previous year, in particular because of the lack of social contacts.
Travail.Suisse is now calling for new rules for working from home. It must be clearly regulated that employers are responsible for the costs and that employees have a right not to be available. In addition, the proportion of the home office must be limited to half of the workload. For the barometer, the association asked around 1,500 people between the ages of 16 and 64. (SDA)