Poll suggests employee engagement may be at a new low

Managers may have to work hard to improve employee engagement over the coming months, new research has indicated

According to the January Employment Index published by Monster.co.uk, 73 per cent of respondents said they were unhappy in their current job, with 20 per cent worried that it will take them at least a year to find another.

Sales staff are found to be the most unhappy at work, while engineering and tourism employees are among the happiest. Some 40 per cent of those who replied to the poll said they have suffered from stress as a result of the pressure involved in their jobs.

Monster.co.uk spokesperson Isabelle Ratinaud said: "It's really quite concerning to see how unhappy people are in their jobs and how scared they are to change their situation."

Stephen Overell, a representative from The Work Foundation, recently said line managers may need regular meetings with staff in order to discuss possible anxiety issues and boost employee engagement.