4 out of 10 Office Workers Cite Their Most Challenging Experience This Year as

Jikjang Gapjil 119, Survey of 1,000 Workers
44.7% Say "Poor Labor Conditions Such as Low Wages and Long Hours"

Among 10 office workers in our country, 4 cited poor labor conditions such as low wages and long working hours as the most difficult aspect of their workplace this year.

On the 24th, the civic group Workplace Bullying 119 announced the results of a survey conducted from the 4th to the 11th of this month targeting 1,000 office workers nationwide aged 19 and older on 'the most difficult experience at work this year.' According to the survey, 44.7% of respondents answered that 'poor labor conditions such as low wages and long working hours' were the most difficult. In particular, this response was more common among workers in smaller workplaces and those employed by private companies.

Among workers at businesses with fewer than 5 employees, 50.3% said that 'poor labor conditions' were the most difficult, which is significantly higher than the 40.8% of workers at businesses with 300 or more employees and 33.8% of workers at central and local public institutions who gave the same answer.

The next most difficult issue for workers after poor labor conditions was 'workplace bullying and interpersonal relationship problems.' One in five respondents, or 22.3%, answered this way. Looking at responses by workplace type, central and local public institutions had the highest rate at 32.4%, followed by private companies with 300 or more employees (24.9%), private companies with 5 to fewer than 300 employees (21.2%), private companies with 30 to fewer than 300 employees (20.4%), and private companies with fewer than 5 employees (14.2%).

By occupation, office workers responded at a rate of 24.4%, and by industry, workers in accommodation and food services (27.3%), health and social welfare services (26.1%), and education services (25.9%) had higher response rates.

Sixteen percent of respondents chose 'employment insecurity such as dismissal, recommended resignation, and non-regular employment' as the most difficult aspect at work this year. This response was only 11.5% among regular employees, while the response rate among non-regular workers reached 22.5%, double that of regular employees. Additionally, 7.8% of respondents cited 'performing dangerous and difficult tasks' as the most challenging experience at work this year.

Attorney Jeong Ki-ho of Workplace Bullying 119 said, "It has been reconfirmed that applying the Labor Standards Act to workplaces with fewer than 5 employees is an essential task to improve poor labor conditions," adding, "The government should expand the application of the Labor Standards Act to make 2024 a year where office workers can live better."