From delivery capability to happiness at work

„The confidence of laboratories in the ability to deliver is returning“, says Klaus Ambos, CEO of the Hamburg-based and Europe-wide laboratory product manufacturer Starlab, summarising the results of the latest sentiment barometer. „Manufacturers are endeavouring to meet the high demand and give laboratories the feeling of security and control. Last but not least, building up new product capacities locally or in Europe can restore confidence," says Ambos.

Material situation improves, aftershocks in quality
The figures from the sentiment barometer confirm the expert's findings.

43 per cent of respondents say that they are now supplied with sufficient liquid handling products again

In 2022, this figure was only just under half as many at 23 per cent. While 17 per cent of laboratories were unable to order their materials at all in recent years, this figure is currently only 4 per cent. The hamster purchases have decreased against the background of increasing availability," says Ambos. According to the study, 46 per cent have been able to stock up on work equipment in recent months. At the start of the pandemic, only 33 per cent had managed to do so. While one in two laboratories (50 per cent) stocked up on reserves for future peaks last year, this figure has now fallen slightly to 46 per cent. However, a majority of 78 per cent still feel the consequences of price pressure in 2023 (2022: 76 per cent). Klaus Ambos: „The research institutions are noticing the high prices indirectly. They are currently working increasingly with cheaper equipment from the Far East, which was purchased in times of absolute supply shortages and must first be used up.

Increasing concern about rising prices and staff shortages
However, according to the study and industry expert Ambos, things will not return to pre-pandemic levels any time soon. „The special effects of corona have been digested. However, laboratories now need to catch up on the groundwork that was de-emphasised during the pandemic. The new normal in the laboratory sector means that the workload and demand will remain correspondingly high. 65 per cent expect demand for research equipment and materials to remain the same. According to Starlab International, only 7 per cent expect a decline. In contrast, almost one in three laboratories (29 per cent) forecast an increase in material requirements. Research organisations expect the greatest challenges in the future to come from rising prices for consumables. Concerns about staff shortages due to a lack of skilled labour have also increased at 21 percent compared to 17 percent in the previous year. However, the fear of supply shortages is decreasing significantly (previous year: 36 per cent / 2023: 25 per cent).

Happiness through problem-solving: challenges in everyday working life can motivate
Despite the enormous work intensity, ongoing crises and reductions in the availability of materials, the mood among employees in the laboratory sector is good to very good. 68 per cent describe themselves as happy in their day-to-day work, and in terms of their job, this figure is as high as 74 per cent. According to the survey, the drivers of satisfaction are colleagues, working atmosphere, availability of materials, recognition and the equipment in the premises. „The very positive figures surprised us in view of the enormous workload. However, they also show that many employees do not necessarily perceive the challenges as frustrating problems, but that solving them leads to motivation. This in turn makes the majority of people in the lab happy," says Starlab CEO Ambos.

&p>About the survey
Starlab began capturing the mood in the laboratory sector in 2021. Two years after the first survey, Starlab customers were again asked to complete a questionnaire via a newsletter in January 2023. A total of 584 customers from Germany, Great Britain, Italy, France and Austria took part in the survey. Of these, 37 per cent are laboratory technicians, 25 per cent are laboratory managers, 18 per cent are postdocs, doctoral students or principal investigators, 16 per cent work in other areas in the laboratories and 4 per cent in purchasing.

Article from LABO from 8 March 2023