Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

Business

How to be happy at work

Published

on

A SURVEY has revealed the top 20 factors for working happiness chosen by people in Wales. The top 20 list, compiled by AAT, the Association of Accounting

Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of AAT

Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of
AAT

Technicians, includes respect for employees, nice toilets, and a comfy chair.

In the top three answers, ‘Flexible hours and understanding when children are sick’ was the most common, chosen by 60% of those questioned. Second was ‘Respect for employees’, given by 56% of those questioned, while third was ‘Fun colleagues’, with 49% choosing that answer.

Top 20 factors for working happiness in Wales

  1. Flexible hours and understanding when children are sick 60%
  2. Respect for employees 56%
  3. Fun colleagues 49%
  4. Hardworking colleagues 44%
  5. Regular thank you 42%
  6. Free parking or close to public transport 37%
  7. Pay review scheme 3 5 %
  8. Having ideas listened to 35%
  9. Being acknowledged for your achievements/hard work 33%
  10. Realistic deadlines 32%
  11. Understanding that you’re on holiday/have finished work 31%
  12. Patience and understanding of colleagues/management 29%
  13. Fast computer/broadband 29%
  14. Extra holidays for service 26%
  15. Nice toilets 25%
  16. Banter 24%
  17. Free tea and coffee 21%
  18. Comfy chair 19%
  19. Laid back office environment 19%
  20. Days off around Christmas that don’t come out of holiday 19%

The top three answers given by people in Wales were similar to the top three when the survey looked at the UK as a whole, with the top three answers across the whole country being ‘Respect for employees’ first, ‘Flexible hours and understanding when children are sick’ second, but ‘Hard working colleagues’ came third across the UK instead of ‘Fun colleagues’.

Top 20 factors for working happiness across the UK

  1. Respect for employees
  2. Flexible hours and understanding when children are sick
  3. Hard working colleagues
  4. Fun colleagues
  5. Being acknowledged for your achievements / hard work
  6. Having ideas listened to
  7. Free parking or close to public transport
  8. Regular thank you
  9. Realistic deadlines
  10. Fast computer and broadband
  11. Pay review scheme
  12. Nice toilets
  13. Patience and understanding of colleagues / management
  14. Understanding that you’re on holiday/finished work
  15. Extra holidays for time of service
  16. Days off around Christmas that don’t come out of your holiday allowance
  17. Banter
  18. Free tea and coffee
  19. Laid back office environment
  20. Comfy chair

Mark Farrar, Chief Executive of AAT, said: ‘’AAT’s study has unveiled the factors that people feel really make the difference in their working lives and many of them are small touches or benefits, rather than big unrealistic demands.”

“Whilst it’s not always possible to find a job or company that matches everything you want from a career, many of the things on the list are attainable and it’s a good chance for people to work out what matters to them and how to improve their own circumstances. Hopefully the majority of people will be able to look through and assess their happiness based on how many they can tick off.”

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

White Hart Inn in St Dogmaels’ expansion bid approved

Published

on

A CALL to expand the licensed area of a Pembrokeshire community pub, recently hailed as one of the most friendly in Britain, has been given the go-ahead by county planners.

The White Hart Inn in St Dogmaels was ranked second friendliest pub in the UK in a study by security experts Get Licensed, which looked at Tripadvisor reviews and median crime scores around each pub to find the friendliest in the UK.

The 250-year-old White Hart, on Finch Street, reopened as a community pub in 2021 following a campaign after it closed in May 2019, when the last landlords decided to refocus to other activities.

The White Hart Community Inn Ltd was formed as a Community Benefit Society and a community share offer launched with the guidance of the Wales Co-operative Centre.

Two years of fund-raising and campaigning saw enough money raised through individual community shares purchases together with financial support from the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government via the Social Business Growth Fund administered by Social Investment Cymru at WCVA, alongside a grant from Pembrokeshire County Council.

White Hart Community Inn (St Dogmaels) Ltd had asked Pembrokeshire County Council for permission the expand the licensed premises through a change of use of the former manager’s accommodation, vacant since early 2022.

The application was conditionally approved by planning officers.

This is the second application for works at the White Hart recently.

An application by White Hart Community Inn (St Dogmaels) Ltd to install solar panels at the historic pub was recently granted by Pembrokeshire County Council.

That proposal was backed by St Dogmaels Community Council, which said it “fully supports the application for the installation of photovoltaic panels”.

Receiving the recent Get Licensed award, the White Hart Inn received a top score of five on Tripadvisor, and 66.67 per cent of its reviews highlighted the pub’s ‘friendly’ and ‘welcoming’ atmosphere.

Continue Reading

Business

Community campaign launched to secure regional banking hub for South Pembrokeshire

Published

on

A community campaign has been launched calling for a dedicated banking hub to be set up in Pembroke Dock, following confirmation that yet another bank is to close its doors for good.

The campaign, led by Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Samuel Kurtz, is aimed at providing a banking lifeline for residents currently faced with lengthy journeys to carry out face-to-face meetings at their respective bank or building society.

The latest closure will be Lloyds Bank, Pembroke Dock, which will cease  operating on June 26. Other recent closures include Pembroke, Tenby, Saundersfoot, Narberth, Neyland, and Milford Haven.

Samuel Kurtz is now calling on residents, local businesses, and community councils to support his formal request for the creation of a Banking Hub in Pembroke Dock, which is a shared banking facility offering face-to-face services operated by major UK banks.

“This bank closure is a devastating loss for our communities,”  Samuel Kurt told The Herald.

“I know that online banking suits most people most of the time, but there are times when speaking to someone face to face is essential. Why should people have to travel miles and miles to enable this to happen?

“The LINK organisation, which assesses banking needs, claims existing ATMs and Post Offices are sufficient. But this doesn’t reflect reality — especially for elderly residents, small businesses, and those who rely on in-person advice and services.”

The most recent LINK assessment was conducted remotely on January, 29, 2025 and concluded that no new banking provision was needed. But Samuel Kurtz MS strongly disputes this.

He claims that essential face-to-face services such as mortgage advice, direct debit management and support of powers of attorney aren’t available at Post Offices, while poor transport links to alternative branches in Haverfordwest make travel costly and inaccessible for many.

 Sam Kurtz has now arranged a meeting with LINK to talk through the steps needed to secure a Banking Hub and is urging residents to sign an online petition and submit a review request to LINK.

“With community support, I believe we can make a powerful and evidence-based case for a Banking Hub in Pembroke Dock,  ideally based at the existing Lloyds site on Dimond Street,” he said.

“With Pembroke Dock being an important retail hub for South Pembrokeshire, it makes sense for a new banking hub to be located within the town.  This is why I’m asking as many people as possible who would like to keep access to banking services in the county to come forward and help make the case to LINK by signing the petition.”

People can support the campaign by signing the petition, requesting a review from LINK or alternatively, by writing to them.

Continue Reading

Business

Fresh plans to extend contentious Pembrokeshire holiday park

Published

on

FRESH plans for a Pembrokeshire holiday park extension have been submitted after a high court judgement overturned a council approval against repeated officer recommendations for refusal.

In late 2023 councillors approved a contentious application by Heritage Leisure Development (Wales) Ltd for works including the installation of 48 bases for holiday lodges, a spa facility at a former pub, holiday apartments, a café and cycle hire, equestrian stables, a manège and an associated office at Heritage Park, Pleasant Valley/Stepaside.

It was said the scheme, next to the historic remains of the 19th century Stepaside ironworks and colliery, would create 44 jobs.

The final decision was made at full council after members of the planning committee had twice supported the scheme against officer recommendations of refusal, based on the Local Development Plan, included the site being outside a settlement area.

Approval was given, by 37 votes to 16, with two abstentions, as it was considered that greater weight should be afforded to economic benefits of the scheme rather than policy.

Since that approval, a successful legal challenge was launched by Stepaside & Pleasant Valley Residents’ Group (SPVRG Ltd), who had objected to the original application.

A March High Court hearing presided by Judge Jarman KC recently ruled against the council decision, quashing that approval, and saying “the reason given by the council did not deal adequately with the important principal issues of development in the countryside, sustainability and precedent”.

It added: “Nor did it deal adequately with the important principal issue of the extent to which detrimental impact on existing sites was or should be taken into account when weighing the economic benefit of the proposed development. The economic assessment of the interested party expressly dealt with the latter, but not the former.”

It said the “major departure from countryside and sustainability policies is likely to have a lasting relevance for the question of policy in future cases,” and the “council’s resolution [was] simply to endorse the resolution of the planning committee, which predated the fuller report of the head of planning to the council.”

A fresh application has now been submitted by Heritage Leisure Development (Wales) Ltd, through agent Lichfields, which is identical to that previously approved, aimed at addressing issues raised in the recent judgement.

In its lengthy submissions, Lichfields says “it is clear that members can reach a decision that is contrary to the development plan without setting a precedent”.

It adds: “However, given that there remains a conflict with the plan policies, there is also a need to consider the nature of the 2024 scheme that comprise unique circumstances that mean that the decision would not set a precedent.”

Listing a long list of ‘unique circumstances’ reasons, it says: “Together the application offers a unique development which, when considered in its entirety, is a bespoke offering that means that there are specific reasons why the proposed development at Heritage Park should be granted and that in doing so, this will not be setting a precedent for future decisions.”

It finishes: “The council has already granted planning permission for the development with members having grappled with many of the issues raised in the judgment. We would welcome the council reaching the same decision while also setting out the requirements raised in the judgment as part of the reasons for granting planning permission.

“This will ensure that there can be no further delays to the delivery of the proposed development and investment being made at Heritage Park while supporting the wider economic development and community offer for the local area and Pembrokeshire as a whole.”

Amroth Community Council has once again objected; councillors proposing the scheme be ‘called in’ for decision by Welsh Government organisation Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW).

The latest application will be considered by county planners at a later date.

Continue Reading

Sport1 day ago

Bluebirds beat Caernarfon Town 3–1 to book place in UEFA Europa Conference League

HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY AFC will once again fly the flag for Pembrokeshire in Europe after a thrilling 3–1 win over Caernarfon...

Community2 days ago

Paddle-out protest sees 200 take to the water in Broad Haven

National day of action calls out sewage pollution across the UK BROAD HAVEN was the scene of a dramatic demonstration...

Community3 days ago

Hundreds turn out for Battle of Goodwick Moor reenactment

Community celebrates Pembrokeshire’s medieval heritage with spectacular living history event GOODWICK Moor was transformed into a living battlefield on Saturday...

Community3 days ago

Hundreds gather in Narberth for colourful Eisteddfod parade and proclamation ceremony

Sun shines on town as Gorsedd of Bards declares 2026 Eisteddfod plans CROWDS lined the streets of Narberth on Saturday...

News3 days ago

Police search Bramble Hall Farm in major operation

Landowner says man fled across fields as woman arrested A LARGE police presence was reported at Bramble Hall Farm in...

News4 days ago

Man arrested after three-car crash on A40 near Haverfordwest

A 24-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested on suspicion of drug driving following a three-vehicle collision on the A40 near Haverfordwest....

News5 days ago

Paddleboarders rescued off Pembrokeshire coast after being blown out to sea

Little and Broad Haven lifeboat crew locate duo near Druidston after emergency 999 call TWO young paddleboarders were rescued off...

Business5 days ago

Skilled labour crisis hits Pembrokeshire’s fishing fleet, warns new national report

Not one Welsh skipper rated crew availability as ‘good’ in Seafish 2024 survey PEMBROKESHIRE’S fishing industry is facing a critical...

News5 days ago

Council’s Deputy Leader doubles down in Welsh language row

THE DEPUTY LEADER of Pembrokeshire County Council has defended the Cabinet from claims it is “anti-Welsh”.Cllr Paul Miller’s remark came...

Business6 days ago

Withyhedge landfill operator seeks to increase waste limit by 50,000 tonnes

Campaigners call for permit reduction instead, warning trust has been “shredded” THE COMPANY behind Pembrokeshire’s controversial Withyhedge landfill site has...

Popular This Week