Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • 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
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • 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
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

StressStressHealth surveillanceMental health conditionsMental health

Fewer staff taking time off for mental health, poll finds

by Ashleigh Webber 9 Oct 2020
by Ashleigh Webber 9 Oct 2020 Shutterstock
Shutterstock

The propotion of workers taking time off because of poor mental health has fallen to 28% from 36% last year, a new poll has found.

Released ahead of World Mental Health Day tomorrow (10 October), the results of an Opinium poll reveal that 62% of UK workers have struggled with their mental health to some degree over the past year, but few were taking leave from work.

Mental health

Warning that a fifth of adults might need mental health support post pandemic

‘Psychological contract violation’ affects police mental health, study finds

Firms urged to ‘step up’ mental health support amid pandemic concerns

Feeling that their concerns were not “bad enough” to justify a day off was the main reason for their reluctance to take time away (35%), while 33% wanted to keep it to themselves and 25% felt it was not a valid reason to take time off.

Of those that did take time off work for their mental health, 57% felt guilty for doing so and 48% felt under pressure to return to work earlier than they should have done.

When they did return, 34% claimed they were left unsupported by their employer. However, 44% said their organisation had a clear process to welcome them back to work.

Sophie Holland, senior research executive at Opinium, said: “Over the past year we have seen employers step up and make changes in their organisations to improve mental wellbeing, and this is being noticed by employees too. However, the pandemic has added an extra level of stress that has affected people’s mental health in different ways.

“Working from home in particular has both negatively and positively impacted mental wellbeing for office workers, and this is something employers need to be mindful of in the months to come, as we could all be working from home a while longer yet. An individualistic approach is vital in supporting employee wellbeing in the months to come.”

One in three workers said working from home over the past six months has improved their mental wellbeing, while 26% felt it had had a negative impact.

Working from home has taken its toll on an increasing number of workers in the last two months, the survey found, with 43% struggling to build in time to go outside during the day (up from 35% in July), and 36% working longer hours than when they were in the workplace (up from 30%).

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Almost one in four (38%) felt more isolated (up from 35%) and 28% said their stress levels had increased (up from 25%).

Opinium Research carried out online surveys of 1,008 UK workers from 24 June to 13 July, and 1,237 workers from 25 to 29 September.

Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is a former editor of OHW+ and former HR and wellbeing editor at Personnel Today. Ashleigh's areas of interest include employee health and wellbeing, equality and inclusion and skills development. She has hosted many webinars for Personnel Today, on topics including employee retention, financial wellbeing and menopause support.

previous post
Job Support Scheme guidance needed soon to avoid redundancies
next post
RAD Awards 2021 open for entries

2 comments

Dr AJAY SATI 9 Oct 2020 - 4:26 pm

There seems to be a lot of mistrust between the employee and the line manager, mainly because there is no solid support from the top management. Unless this is resolved, employees will continue to suffer and the whole exercise will remain a tick in the box. Moreover, mental health is not about talking with a Power Point presentation. Conveying the nuances of mental health to people is an art as well and that remains its biggest handicap.

Simon K 10 Oct 2020 - 8:40 am

Totally agree with you, Dr Sati.

Comments are closed.

You may also like

Uncertainty over law hampering legal use of medical...

20 May 2025

Employers ‘worryingly’ ignorant about stress risk assessments

20 May 2025

Awareness weeks fuel spike in demand for mental...

19 May 2025

Healthcare workers prioritise mental health support in new...

12 May 2025

Two-thirds of school leaders suffering mental ill health

6 May 2025

‘Healthy work’ about much more than access to...

28 Apr 2025

Tool developed for employers to calculate cost of...

28 Apr 2025

Why employers must do more to support all...

24 Apr 2025

How to help employees quit vaping before new...

22 Apr 2025

NHS urging people to check for cancer warning...

22 Apr 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...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 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • 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
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today