British workers feel that their employers do not do enough to protect the environment, and fail to give staff the opportunity to be eco-friendly, new research reveals.
The survey, carried out by YoyGov on behalf of internet technology company WebEx, suggests that although 62% of British workers feel it is important to be environmentally friendly, a half say their employers are not fulfilling this responsibility.
There is also a considerable majority, 63%, who would like to change their working habits to be more green, but do not know what steps to take.
Previous research by Envirowise revealed that 59% of workers who take no action to reduce waste said that easier access to eco-friendly options such as recycling bins would encourage them to be more conscientious.
This research comes at a time when the energy use of the commercial sector is rapidly rising. It suggests that being eco-friendly could be keeping employees happier, as well as helping the environment.
For an issue that is so important to most employees, it is surprising that employers are not taking the required steps, according to Bert van der Zwan, regional vice-president of WebEx.
“While it is encouraging that so many workers would like to reduce their impact on the environment, businesses need to wake up to the need to employ business practices that are profitable and sustainable,” said van der Zwan.
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2006
