Questionnaire Results
Capacitate Survey, Research and Analysis
'Attitudes and Fears at the Workplace'
Methodology
- 1000 businesses in Carmarthenshire were sent the 'Attitudes and Fears at the Workplace' questionnaire in hard copy by post.
- 100 completed questionnaires were returned to Antur Teifi, ensuring a 10% response rate.
- The results were collated in a MS Excel spreadsheet.
- The analysis uses a sample size of 100 businesses.
Results
Information about respondents questioned.
Size of company results
- 59% of companies have 20 or less employees.
- 22% of companies have between 20 and 49 employees
- 15% of companies have between 50 and 250 employees
- Only 4% of companies questioned have between 250 and 500 employees.
The results highlight that the county of Carmarthenshire predominantly attracts and houses micro and small businesses. This fact will have an impact on further results.
Business Sector
- 25% of businesses questioned were in the manufacturing sector.
- 16% of businesses were in the retail or distribution sector.
- 14% of businesses were in the tourism or hospitality industries.
- 8% were agricultural businesses.
- 7% were in the construction sector.
- 6%were food producers or in the food industry.
- 5% are education or training based businesses.
- 4% were in the communication sector
- 4% were in the health or community sector
- 3% fell into the property sector.
The outstanding 8% fell outside the specific sectors stated. The results show that a broad range of sectors were questioned. Although the manufacturing sector had the highest percentage the results show that a wide spectrum of sectors responded ensuring a varied set of results. The highest percentage of sectors responding again highlights the nature of the county of Carmarthenshire, where manufacturing, retail, tourism and agriculture are the main focuses.
Age of respondent
- 45% or respondents were aged 50 or over.
- 30% of respondents were aged between 40 and 49.
- 20% of respondents were aged between 30 and 39
- 5% of respondents were less than 30 years old.
The results for the age of respondent's highlights that Carmarthenshire as a county has a large percentage of workers who are aged over 40. Carmarthenshire as a county has on average an older workforce than the rest of the UK
Gender
- 47% of respondents were male
- 53% of respondents were female
The results were reasonably split between male and female respondents.
How many employees the respondent is responsible for.
- 46% were responsible for between 1 and 5 employees
- 22% were responsible for between 6 and 10 employees
- 13% were responsible for between 21 and 50 employees
- 8% were responsible for more than 50
- 6% were responsible for between 11 and 20 employees
- 5% were responsible for no employees.
68% of respondents were responsible for between 1 and 10 employees which substantiates earlier results proving that the majority of businesses are small enterprises in the county
Question 1- What are your main challenges when recruiting employees?
- 22% of respondents felt the biggest challenge facing their recruitment was finding people with appropriate skills.
- 21% believed it was finding people with appropriate experience.
- 14% felt that it was finding people interested in the type of employment they were offering.
- 11% felt it was finding people to work for the salary offered.
- 10% believed it was finding people to work for flexible hours.
- 8% believed it was finding people with appropriate qualifications.
- 6% felt it was finding people with appropriate training.
- 8% of respondents do not face any recruiting problems.
A large percentage of employers questioned highlighted that the biggest challenge facing their recruitment was finding suitable people with the appropriate skills, experience, qualifications and training. The fact that Carmarthenshire tends to have an older workforce will impact on results also because wages are on average lower than the rest of the UK.
Question 2- Which of the following age groups do the majority of your employees belong to?
- 62% of respondent's employees are aged between 30 and 49.
- 21% are aged between 20 and 29.
- 15% are aged over 50
- 2% were under 20.
Question 3- At what age do you think employers consider an employee to be an older worker?
- 36% of employers believed that a worker aged 60 or over was considered an older worker.
- 27% believe an employee aged between 55 and 60 is classed as an older worker.
- 23% feel a person aged between 50 and 54 is an older worker.
- 9% think an employee aged between 45 and 49 is an older worker.
- 5% believe a person aged between 40 and 44 is an older worker.
The largest percentage of people believe that employees aged over 60 are considered older which encouragingly shows that prejudice against age is not a common issue. Again because Carmarthenshire predominantly attracts an older workforce this may impact on the results.
Question 4- Which of these statements about the Government do you believe the most?
- 52% of employers believe that the Government should provide reasonable opportunities so people can get ahead on their own.
- 23% of employers believe the Government should not get involved in with offering jobs and opportunities to people.
- 19% believe the Government should guarantee a job for everyone who wants one.
- 5% were unsure.
A large majority of employers believe that a free market is best society. Based on the Adam Smith philosophy of the laissez-faire attitude.
Question 5- Opinions about if the government had to adjust taxes and spending on social services.
- 50% of employers believe the government should keep tax and spending on social services at current levels.
- 27% believe spending and tax on social services should be increased
- 17% felt that taxes and spending on social services should be reduced.
- 6% were unsure.
The largest majority of businesses felt that tax and spending should be kept the same which supports the above analysis.
Question 6- Which of these statements about the Government is closest to your views?
- 71% of employers questioned felt that the government should only provide a safety net for people. So that the poorest members of society have a decent standard of living.
- 14% felt the government should take steps to ensure everybody has an equal income.
- 7% of employers felt that the government should leave people's income to market forces.
- 8% were unsure.
Again supporting the above analysis, the largest majority of employers felt that a capitalist free market was the best society. The results of questions 4, 5 & 6 all support each other and are expected because the results are carried out with predominantly small business owners. Additional legislation and spending will impact on the businesses and they feel that it would be a negative way.
Question 7- For different occupations, which impairment would affect the person's ability to carry out the role.
- Of the employers questioned 39% felt that an occupation as a driver would be affected most by different impairments.
- 33% felt that a farmer's work would be affected by impairment.
- 31% felt that impairment in an assembly worker would affect their ability to carry out their work.
- Employers felt that people employed as secretaries and receptionists would be affected the least by having an impairment.
- For specific roles employers felt that; mental health issues, sensory impairment and epilepsy would have the most impact on all sectors.
- Employers believed that diabetes, asthma and heart disease had the least affect on specific job roles.
Predictably the three occupations that were highlighted as being most affected by an impairment were the most physically challenging roles. The results show that more education is needed for employers about different impairments and the restraints they have. Rather than assuming that anybody with an impairment cannot take these roles, more information needs to be provided to show the benefits of doing so. The most feared impairments were mental health issues, sensory impairment and epilepsy. Again these results show a lack of understanding of the impairments which will need to be addressed for these figures to be increased. The three impairments highlighted are wide reaching so different levels of an impairment need to be addressed rather than stereotyping.
Question 8- Agreement or disagreement to the following advantages of employing somebody with a health condition or claiming incapacity benefit.
- 52% of employers felt there was no distinct advantage in employing somebody with a health condition or claiming incapacity benefit.
- 47% of employers believed that people with a health condition or claiming incapacity benefit added to the diversity to the project approach.
- 49% of employers disagreed that employees with a health condition or claiming incapacity benefit were more flexible.
- 47% disagreed that they had more knowledge or skills
- 45% disagreed that they were more productive.
In general 44% of employers questioned were unsure about many of the statements. 38% disagreed with the statements and only 19% agreed. Again the results show there is still a lot of work to be done amongst the business community regarding the benefits of employing people who have been on incapacity benefit or who have a long term health condition or disability and also to dispel some of the common misconceptions.
Question 9- What disadvantages does an employee with a health condition or claiming incapacity benefit have.
- 50% of employers questioned felt that employing somebody with a health condition or claiming incapacity benefit offered no distinct advantage.
- 47% believed that they were more likely to have time off work due to personal issues.
- 36% believed they were too difficult to employ because the complexity of the law.
- 82% disagreed that they would expect higher wages than other workers.
- 78% disagreed that it would stifle creativity and originality.
- 77% disagreed that they wouldn't work well with other employees.
The results for both questions 8 and 9 showed no clear results for agreements or disagreement for specific statements. Many of the answers were ambiguous and contradictory, it highlights that many employers may have answered politically rather than truthfully.
Question 10. Do you feel comfortable when in contact with people who have one of the following conditions in the various situations?
Most of the employers questioned would feel most comfortable around family, friends or neighbours if they had a specific impairment. They would feel less conformable around people with impairments if they were a colleague or formed part of their leisure activities.
The specific impairments that employers are most comfortable with in most situations are diabetes and asthma. The impairments they are least comfortable with are mental health issues and epilepsy. Predictably most employers would feel more comfortable around friends and family with specific impairments rather than employees or in a social circle. This again highlights a need for education of specific impairments to encourage understanding rather than fear.
Question 11- Do any of the staff at your organisation have a disability or long-term health condition?
- 51% of employers explained that a member of staff in their organisation has a disability or long-term health condition
- 49% of employers do not employ somebody with a disability or long-term health condition
Encouragingly a large percentage of employers currently employ or have employed in the past a person with a disability. This may be because Carmarthenshire has, on average an older workforce and the majority of society that have disabilities or impairments tend to be older people.
Question 12- Have you ever employed anyone that was on a benefit such as disability, incapacity or invalidity?
- 41% of employers have employed somebody that has been on a state benefit.
- 37% of employers have not employed somebody that has been on a state benefit.
- 22% were unsure
These percentages are deemed low particularly because Carmarthenshire has such a large number of incapacity benefit claimants. Again it is a matter of educating both employers and members of the business community with the benefits of employing these people which will not only benefit the person but the business as well.
Question 13- Would you consider employing a disabled person or someone with a long-term health condition?- 91% of employers would consider employing a disabled person or someone with a long-term health condition?
- 9% would not consider employing a disabled person or someone with a long-term health condition.
The main reasons given were because they felt it would take too long to train them and it is too dangerous. Worryingly 9% of Carmarthenshire Businesses are actually breaking the law by not considering disabled people or people with an impairment. This highlights not only the need for education about the disabilities or impairments but also about business law and the effect it could have on their business.
Question 14- What support would you need to employ a disabled person or someone with a long-term health condition?
- 39% of employers stated they would need to make changes to their premises.
- 28% felt they would need to acquire accessibility equipment. * 22% believed they would need new or improved staff practices.
- 10% felt they would need additional training in areas such as; understanding disabilities.
Question 15- Are you aware of any financial incentives or other support available if you employ a disabled person or someone with a long- term health condition?
- 84% of employers were not aware of any financial support or support available for employing a disabled person or somebody with a long term health condition.
- 16% were aware of financial support available.
84% of employers were not aware of any financial support available for employing a disabled member of staff or somebody with a long- term health condition. It was also quite interesting to know that a lot of the business support organisations and business advisors are not aware of financial support available. This will be an important tool when encouraging people to employ people with disabilities however the financial incentives need to marketed to the business community.
Question 16- Have you had experience of someone have an epileptic seizure?
- 57% of employers questioned had experienced someone having an epileptic seizure.
- 43% had not experienced this.
Question 17- If so, have you ever had to intervene in the event of a seizure?
- 33% of employers have had to intervene when witnessing an epileptic seizure.
- 67% have not had to intervene.
Question 18- How did the seizure manifest itself?
- 21% of those questioned explained that the seizure manifested itself with a loss of consciousness and uncontrollable movements.
- 15% explained that it manifested itself through shaking.
- 13% witnessed a sudden fall.
- 11% explained it was though muscular contractions.
Question 19- Employers opinion about the compatibility of epilepsy with various tasks.
- 63% of employers believed that Epilepsy was compatible with a position of responsibility.
- 53% of employers believed a person with epilepsy could not drive a transport vehicle or operate machinery.
- 64% of employers disagreed that a person with epilepsy is often on sick leave.
A high percentage of employers questioned were unsure about Epilepsy and its compatibilities.
Question 20- Employers agreement with specific statements.
- 73% of employers believed that an employee must inform colleagues of their epilepsy.
- 86% believed they must inform their line manager.
- 84% believed they must inform the occupational medical officer.
A high majority of employers have witnessed an epileptic seizure. Epilepsy in the UK is viewed by a large majority as a manageable disease where patients can lead a normal life however when it comes to employment from a societal viewpoint the economic cost of epilepsy in the workplace is a concern. A recent study suggested that of the estimated 200,000 people with epilepsy of working age in the UK as many as half are experiencing moderate or severe problems with employment. The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) requires that both employers and employees declare factors which might prejudice the safety of employees and epilepsy is regarded as a relevant factor. A failure to declare can result in instant dismissal which would not be considered unfair if brought before an industrial tribunal.
General Analysis
The questionnaire highlights the need for more education of employers in the county of Carmarthenshire. It would appear that people with disabilities, impairments or people with long term health conditions do not necessarily not want to work but it is changing the employer's perceptions about these groups of benefits and educating them on the benefits, such as;
- Financial Incentives.
- Competitive Advantage.
- Potentially Representative Workforce
- Larger Pool of Potential Workforce
- Diverse workforce that can attract a diverse range of customers.
- Strong commitment to work
- Good punctuality and low absentee records.
In a lot of cases the employers are finding it difficult to employ the rights sorts of people into the business but contradictory they do not see the benefits of opening up their recruiting pool. When showing the results to our development partnership our results echoed a lot of the feedback they received on a daily basis, where the same elements were highlighted. However the bigger problem is changing people's opinions and attitudes and dispelling common stereotypes which we know exist. Overcoming prejudices and education amongst employers, the business support organisations and workforce is essential and is highlighted by many of the results. It is also important to note that due to many of the answers being ambiguous and contradictory employers may have answered politically rather than truthfully.
