Week in numbers: 73% of workers say bosses ignore them at work

87% of workers say walls between work and real life are crumbling

A study from workplace software company Firstup has released research, conducted by Opinion Matters, that suggests workers are miserable at work. The global survey of 23,000 workers, including over 5,000 Brits, found just 40% felt valued in their role. 80% said their employer had made no changes to improve the employee experience during the pandemic, and 87% said there were insufficient barriers between work and the rest of their lives.

Furthermore, the survey found tensions between those working at home and those that had returned to the office. Just 27% of remote workers said their employers listened to them, and 25% said they’d never been asked about their thoughts toward their company (the figure was 20% for in-office workers). And 38% of remote workers said their in-office colleagues could learn about flexibility from them.

CX reform held back by in-fighting, say 31% of business leaders

A study from consultants Paragon DCX of 209 business decision makers has found the top barriers toward implementing better customer experience (CX) infrastructure at brands aren’t cash or willpower, but the businesses themselves. 44% said lack of face-to-face meetings was an obstacle, 32% said lack of time and 31% said internal politics at their business had prevented improvements. Other reasons for failure included staff staying within their silos (29%), poor internal comms and a lack of data coordination (both 24%).

UK shoppers spent 4% less on food in summer of 2021

New figures from Kantar show grocery sales fell 4% over the summer compared to last year. During the four weeks to August 8, sales declined 0.5% compared to 2020, but were 4% lower over the 12 weeks prior to that date. While sales are still 9.9% higher than the same period of 2019, Kantar’s head of retail and consumer insight says this shows the economy is opening up and giving consumers more options to spend – compared to 2020’s summer of picnics and plague.

Fraser McKevitt said: “With the end of social distancing restrictions, people have been happier to head into stores to make more regular, smaller shops. Consumers made an extra 108,000 shopping trips this month, while average basket sizes were 10% smaller.”

50% say they expect a bigger Christmas

Research from eBay Ads UK provides some predictions on Christmas spending this year. A poll of 2,000 Britons found 26% say they have less disposable income than compared to before the pandemic, while 19% have more (good for them) and 55% are even-stevens.

At the same time, 24% expect Christmas to be a bigger deal than last year and 50% say they’re planning on splashing more cash during Yuletide – though 40% say they would prefer a smaller, quieter festive season.

Harmony Murphy, GM Advertising UK at eBay, said: “With 100 days to go until Christmas, brands have an enormous opportunity to engage with excited consumers – however, it’s vital that they take into consideration the vastly different experiences people have lived over the course of the pandemic. Brands need to be mindful of consumers’ varying priorities and mindsets, and carefully tailor messaging and targeting accordingly. This is crucial to demonstrating you really care for your customers this Christmas time.”

86% of UK gamers hate video ads

AudioMob, an audio ad company that specializes in mobile inventory, has published some research about gamers’ ad preferences. Unsurprisingly, 75% of gamers said they’d prefer audio ads to video ones within a gaming experience; 86% of UK adults said they didn’t want to see video ads at all. The company draws a line of opportunity here, noting that 61% of 18-24-year-olds and 34% of 45-54-year-olds listen to music while they play – suggesting that audio ads can already fit into their sonic mileu.

Almost 60% think gender pay gap is unsolvable

A study by INvolve, a diversity and inclusion consultancy, has found that just 12% of people think there is gender equality in their place of work; just 8% think their company’s gender equality targets are clear.

The study included two polls of 1,000 and 2,000 people, respectively conducted by Censuswide and by INvolve on social media, which also found that 59% think the gender pay gap will never close.