Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

StressAnxietyDepressionStressMental health conditions

Work is becoming worse for employee wellbeing, finds CIPD

by Ashleigh Webber 4 Jun 2020
by Ashleigh Webber 4 Jun 2020 The pandemic has been a challenging time for parents
Shutterstock
The pandemic has been a challenging time for parents
Shutterstock

The proportion of people who feel that work has a positive impact on their mental health has fallen over the past two years, with up to one in four workers reporting intense and stressful working conditions, such as feeling exhausted, miserable or stressed.

This is according to the CIPD, which suggested that employers have not done enough to tackle to the issue despite the prominence given to the mental health over the past few years.

As the full scale of the economic crisis unfolds, the outlook looks even bleaker. We’ll likely see employers trying to do more with less, which will only increase people’s workload and the pressure they are already under,” – Jonny Gifford, CIPD

The survey of 6,681 workers conducted in January 2020, before the coronavirus pandemic hit the UK, found just 35% felt work had a positive impact on their mental wellbeing, down from 44% in 2018.

A third felt their normal weekly workload was too high and 24% struggled to relax in their free time because of work worries. Twenty-two per cent felt exhausted “always or often” while at work.

Work was also exacerbating employees’ existing mental health conditions, with 69% who had experienced anxiety in the past year stating that work was a contributing factor. Fifty-eight per cent said the same of depression.

Jonny Gifford, senior research adviser at the CIPD, said: “Even before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, work was becoming worse for our health. This is the complete opposite of how it should be – work can and should have a positive impact on people’s lives.

“As the full scale of the economic crisis unfolds, the outlook looks even bleaker. We’ll likely see employers trying to do more with less, which will only increase people’s workload and the pressure they are already under. Many people will also be worried about losing their job or living on a reduced income.

A subsequent survey of 1,001 conducted in April/May showed that the pandemic was “heightening” employees’ issues, the CIPD said. More than four in 10 (43%) of those with a mental health condition say the pandemic has contributed to or worsened their condition.

Coronavirus and wellbeing

Coronavirus: workers worried about future and ‘overwhelmed’ by the news

Managers must improve mental health support during coronavirus crisis

The findings were revealed as the CIPD published its 2020 Good Work Index, which assesses the state of the UK work environment based on seven indicators of job quality: pay and benefits, contracts, work-life balance, job design, relationships at work, employee voice and health and wellbeing.

It says: “The coming months and beyond will be difficult to navigate…Full employment is an important objective, but it is not enough – healthy economies and healthy societies also rest on jobs that provide both financial stability and a decent quality of working life. HR and other people professionals have a vital role in this, as experts in employment and people management.”

Assessment of job quality

In assessing the ‘pay and benefits’ measure of job quality, the CIPD finds a third of staff felt they were not paid appropriately for the job they do, although workers have become more satisfied with pay over the past few years.

When work-life balance is looked at, a quarter say work interferes with their personal commitments, but 63% feel it is easy to “take an hour or two” off work for personal matters.

In terms of job design, 73% feel their work is meaningful for their organisation, but 11% lack the skills they need for their job and 37% have underused skills.

The report notes that some jobs “may be improved relatively easily through progressive people management and employment practices”, although it recognises that “others may be harder to improve”.

Gifford said: “While the government is right to focus on protecting as many jobs as possible, it should also be encouraging employers to look at job quality. Not only is there a moral imperative to do so, but if people are happy and healthy in their jobs they also perform better, take less time off and are less likely to drop out of the workforce. In the long run, this will help us get on the road to economic recovery sooner.”

To reduce pressure on employees and help address wellbeing concerns, the CIPD advised that employers:

  • Ask about workloads and ensure employees are not under excessive pressure
  • Ensure managers are trained in having supportive, sensitive discussions on wellbeing and communicate with reports regularly
  • Promote health and wellbeing benefits, such as counselling helplines
  • Give staff more autonomy or control over how, when and where they work.

HR Director opportunities on Personnel Today

Browse more HR director jobs

Ashleigh Webber
Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is editor at OHW+ and part of the Personnel Today editorial team. Prior to joining Personnel Today in 2018, she covered the road transport sector for Commercial Motor and Motor Transport.

previous post
Email ‘anxiety’ behind seven in 10 furloughed staff checking inbox
next post
Establish ‘wage boards’ to address low-paid workers’ earnings

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Nurses leaving due to pressure and workplace culture

18 May 2022

Crumbling school buildings ‘risk to life’ suggests leak

16 May 2022

Workers feeing increasingly anxious, burnt out and fearful...

13 May 2022

Spain plans menstrual leave for painful periods

13 May 2022

How employers can support women during the HRT...

13 May 2022

What it really means to be mentally fit

13 May 2022

What is employee wellbeing? Gethin Nadin talks to...

13 May 2022

The seven dimensions of wellness at work (webinar)

12 May 2022

Are we happy now? New research Sugar-coats working...

6 May 2022

Link suggested between poor sleep and stubborn weight...

6 May 2022

  • The importance of being an ethical leader and how to become one PROMOTED | What is ethical leadership?...Read more
  • RPO Report: 2022, The Year to Outsource PROMOTED | Employers should be overwhelmed with choice...Read more
  • Report: Enabling organisational agility through talent & people success PROMOTED | Work has been challenged...Read more
  • Employee Trends 2022 report PROMOTED | Edenred research on employees analysed the key employees’ trends for 2022...Read more
  • How finance apprenticeships can boost business PROMOTED | As the world’s most forward-thinking professional accountancy body...Read more
  • Paul Devoy: Showing appreciation to the Investors in People community PROMOTED | Ask most people what comes to mind when you mention Investors in People...Read more
  • White paper: How digitalisation can support evolving occupational health PROMOTED | Download this free white paper to discover how digitalisation can help occupational health meet emerging challenges...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today