Survey highlights a lack of confidence for employees to share mental health concerns
Experts warn employees are being left to manage wellbeing issues on their own and urge businesses to engage in conversations and offer targeted support.
Two-thirds of employees would not feel comfortable raising a mental or emotional wellbeing issue with their employer, a survey has found.
The poll of 8,000 UK adults, conducted by Nuffield Health as part of its Healthier Nation Index report, found 66 per cent would not share their mental health struggle with their employer.
It also found that despite 37 per cent of respondents saying their mental health had worsened over the last year, a third (33 per cent) were not offered any physical or emotional wellbeing support at the workplace.
Survey results from Slack survey
Separate data released by Slack also highlighted how post-pandemic challenges were heavily impacting the workforce.
Its poll of 1,000 knowledge workers found more than a third (37 per cent) were stressed about going into the office, with nearly half of these (49 per cent) citing concerns over the additional costs such as travel and food.
The same percentage (49 per cent) also cited concerns over work-life balance as a cause of stress when returning to the office.
The Slack poll also found three-quarters (73 per cent) of employees experienced burnout in the past year, and that nearly a third (32 per cent) were working more overtime. Only two in five (38 per cent) of those polled felt their workplace valued their mental health.
Benefits of a proactive approach
Nick Homer, head of group risk at Zurich UK, said the increased anxiety and work-related stress was a key contributor to workplace absence.
But, he said, early identification of illnesses or mental health concerns could lead to “swifter intervention”, which could help prevent absences or help an employee make a successful return to work.
“Proactive and preventative care [will enable organisations] to get the best from their employees, boost productivity, and reduce the risk of mental health-related sickness or absence,” Homer said.
About P3 Business Care
P3 Business Care is a Community Interest Company and social enterprise operating across the UK. Supporting your business on a weekly basis we provide personal and proactive care to your employees working in partnership with the company. Our Business Partners visit your business developing trust & relationships so we can identify and address issues before they become crisis, absence, or staff turnover. Read more about our services here
