A large section of Britain’s leisure workers are feeling unloved by their employers, with the disregard for corporate social responsibility (CSR) likely to impact on performance, according to a study.

The Investors in People survey found over half (56 per cent) of full-time employees in working in the leisure sector feel their employer doesn’t care about personal health and wellbeing, as long as they get the job done.

Of those, 47 per cent say it has led to them feeling less motivated, with a third (35 per cent) stating they have considered looking for a new job as a result. In addition, one in ten (12 per cent) admitted they don’t work as hard, and a further 16 per cent said they actually resent their employer.

The survey also highlights how a lack of investment in staff wellbeing can bear financial costs, with one in five workers having ‘pulled a sickie’ in the last year, with a minority (4 per cent) doing so more than five times.

While most sickness absence is genuine, those who described themselves as unhappy in their role are more likely to take ‘sickies’ compared with those who are happy, with 27 per cent of unhappy workers in the UK having lied about being ill to take a day off on at least one occasion in the last year, compared with 20 per cent of contented employees.

Conversely, firms that do practice good CSR appear to reap the rewards. The research shows that almost half (47 per cent) of those questioned say the health and wellbeing benefits offered by their employer improve their overall job satisfaction.

Respondents stated that health insurance (42 per cent) was the top health and wellbeing benefit which makes or would make them feel most satisfied and valued in their role, followed by flexible hours (39 per cent) and dental insurance (24 per cent).

Smaller gestures also appear to have an effect on morale, with seven per cent stating their job satisfaction is or could be improved simply by employers providing fresh fruit in the office.

The study questioned 297 full-time employees in the UK’s leisure, retail and catering sectors at the beginning of February.