How ‘good jobs’ can reverse £1bn cost of north’s workplace conflict

‘Good jobs’ could help reverse the cost of workplace conflict in Northern Ireland, which burdens employers and the region’s economy with around £1 billion in costs each year.

That’s according a research report commissioned by the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) and authored by Professor Chris Warhurst and Dr Emily Erickson from Warwick Institute for Employment Research.

And it comes as Stormont’s Department for the Economy moves to adopt the Carnegie Framework, which identifies seven dimensions of job quality – terms of employment; pay and benefits; health, safety and psychosocial wellbeing; job design and the nature of work; social support and cohesion; voice and representation; and work life balance.

Authors of the LRA’s ‘Building a Business Case for Good Jobs’ report demonstrated the links between good jobs and increased innovation, productivity, and employee health and wellbeing, with the key finding being that positive employee engagement and wellbeing is mutually beneficial for both workers and business performance.

LRA chief executive Don Leeson said: “The report provides tangible proof that good jobs improve organisational performance. Considering this alongside research which we published last year showing that toxic workplaces cost employers and our economy up to £1 billion a year, the provision of good jobs makes sound economic sense.

“When businesses invest in job quality through fair wages, supportive work environments, and opportunities for development, they see significant improvements in employee morale, productivity, and retention. This, in turn, enhances overall business performance and contributes to economic stability and growth. This is what we need in Northern Ireland, given our persistent low level of productivity.

“The findings suggest that the dimensions of good jobs are a useful foundation for a Good Employment Charter for Northern Ireland, which the LRA is currently developing to help drive the creation of good jobs,” he added.

Economy minister Conor Murphy, speaking at the launch of the report, reiterated that one of the four key priorities as part of his economic vision is to create ‘good jobs.’

He said: “Providing workers and their families with a decent, secure income is an important aim in its own right. What this research demonstrates is that good jobs also contribute to other economic and social objectives, such as improving productivity, and promoting physical and mental health.”

Professor Warhurst said: “Our findings provide good news for policy makers who are interested in improving innovation, productivity and employee health and wellbeing. We have found evidence that good social support from colleagues and line managers can create workplaces that are more innovative.

“A strong positive relationship exists between pay and productivity, and good work-life balance also boosts productivity. However, long working hours and job insecurity negatively impact mental and physical health. Control over tasks and task variety positively affects mental health, supporting the case for creating more good jobs.”

Among the companies participating in the research was leading fintech firm FinTru, which has been celebrated for its good employment practices.

Its chief administration officer Sinead Carville said: “Our employee-focused culture is exemplified by a variety of wellbeing programmes, clear career progression pathways, training and learning opportunities, and inclusivity – all of which leads to a high-performance workplace.”