Warehouse report 2022: Does a good work environment lead to increased profitability?
Together with Kantar Sifo, we have interviewed 400 warehouse and logistics managers across Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. The survey covers the physical work environment and highlights a number of interesting statistics and important insights. Now you can
Discover the findings from our warehouse report!
- The majority of warehouse managers do not know enough about the physical work environment.
- Over half of warehouse managers have had no training on the subject.
- There are significant opportunities for improvements in warehouse fittings and equipment to help employees with their physical work.
Tracking the development of the work environment
A positive work environment is important from several perspectives. It helps to prevent accidents and illness at work and also to ensure that employees' productivity levels remain high. Since we spend a large proportion of our lives at work, it is important for us to enjoy what we do and to have the right conditions to carry out our work as effectively as possible.During the process of creating a good work environment, it is essential to focus on what makes people feel happy in the workplace. That's why we at AJ Products decided to carry out a survey of how warehouse and logistics managers in the Nordic countries perceive the physical work environment and what measures they take in this area. Our aim was to gain a better understanding of the physical work environment and, at the same time, assess future requirements so that we could continue to deliver what our customers need.
PROFITABILITY
Employees who feel good do a better job
Good profitability is an important consideration for all companies because it creates the conditions needed for long-term, sustainable growth. There are many factors that contribute to good profitability, including the physical work environment. Employees who are provided with the right working conditions will often perform their daily tasks to a high standard.
Do warehouse managers in the Nordic countries take the same view? As many as 93% of them agree and see a strong connection between profitability and the physical work environment. Over half of warehouse managers think that the work environment is extremely important.
The majority of warehouse managers lack awareness in this area, although the majority of warehouse managers in the survey believe that the physical work environment is important for profitability, many believe that they do not know enough about how to create a good physical work environment. Only 22% of managers believe they are knowledgeable about creating a good physical work environment. According to the report, the more employees a company has, the more knowledgeable the manager in question is. It is also clear that those who have taken physical work environment training courses have higher levels of knowledge, indicating that training on the subject produces results.
Although the survey indicates that training on the subject of the physical work environment yields results, the report also shows that only 46% of warehouse and logistics managers have undergone some form of training or attended a course relating to the physical work environment. This means that over half of them do not have enough training on the subject. More than half of the managers, 56%, have tried to find information about the physical work environment in the last 12 months. The main sources of information are internet searches, the relevant public authority and the company's environmental policy.
CURRENT SITUATION
Plenty of talk, but not much action
If the physical work environment affects profitability, then employees should have the best possible working conditions. But do they? The survey shows that there is great potential for improvements that would increase profitability in the workplace. Only a few percent of managers think that their fittings and equipment are currently extremely good.
How good are the fittings and equipment in your workplace?
Almost half of the warehouse managers think that their fittings and equipment are quite good, which paints a mediocre picture of the condition of industrial workplaces. Only 8% think that their fittings and equipment are extremely good, which means that there is significant room for improvement.
Areas with the greatest potential for improvement
The survey shows that there is significant room for improvement in the workplace, which can also lead to an increase in productivity. Safety equipment, waste management, and lifting equipment are currently seen as the areas with the best solutions, while noise reduction, mats, and storage systems have the greatest potential for development.
Summary by AJ Products
It is clear that managers understand that the work environment and profitability go hand in hand. As many as 93% of them say that they think the physical work environment is very important. Despite this insight, they have too little knowledge about the subject. The survey also reveals that over half of the managers talk about the subject every week, but that the majority of them lack training in this area.
The warehouse report shows that existing work environments are not designed to provide the best conditions that will enable employees to do a good job. Warehouse managers believe that the situation is worst in relation to noise reduction, mats, and storage systems, while the best solutions are available in the areas of safety equipment, waste management, and lifting systems. In other words, there is currently considerable potential for development in the workplace.
- The work environment and profitability go hand in hand.
- Nevertheless, warehouse managers do not know nearly enough about creating a good work environment.
- More than half of managers discuss the physical work environment every week.
- The majority have had no training on the subject.
- The design of existing work environments is not always ideal.
- There is the greatest potential for improvement in areas such as noise reduction, mats and storage systems.
We make your everyday life easier
At AJ Products, we have a variety of products that can help to bring improvements in these areas. We know that noise in the workplace can lead to headaches and poorer performance. We know that poor-quality work equipment can lead to permanent pain and, ultimately, to sick leave. We know that clutter and poor storage solutions contribute to stress and reduce efficiency levels. That's why we develop products and tools that bring a real difference and make work easier.
Popular Products
THE FUTURE
A focus on machine safety
Over 60% of managers believe that the physical workplace will develop in the future and are of the opinion that machine safety, ergonomics, and lifting equipment are the areas most in need of improvement. Machine safety is at the top of the list, with 46% of managers saying that developments in this area are urgently needed within the next five years. Ergonomics, loading and heavy lifting are close behind. These are also important factors in creating a workplace where employees feel good and can do their jobs well. Heavy lifting has previously emerged as an area where there are currently good solutions available. This indicates that some companies have effective solutions and others do not, while many companies have good solutions today that will need to become even betterimprove even further in the future.
Machine safety, ergonomics, lifting equipment
The report shows that most of the managers have a positive view of the future and that a large majority believe that the work environment will change for the better. At AJ Products, we have been furnishing and equipping workplaces for more than 45 years. We supply around 15,000 products for offices, schools, warehouses, and factories. Get in touch if you need us.
