One in four workers know a colleague whose mental wellbeing has suffered as a result of workplace stress, according to a new survey.
Half of workers believe that stress in the workplace is a “serious problem”. And more than 40% believe their careers would suffer if they admitted to being affected by stress, according to the survey published by mental health charity Together.
“These findings demonstrate that not only is stress in the workplace a serious problem, but there is still a powerful stigma attached to admitting to being stressed at work,” said Together chief executive Gil Hitchon. “Far too many workers are suffering in silence and feel they have nowhere to go for support.”
The survey also revealed that more than 50% of workers believe their employers are unaware of the extent of workplace stress.
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Hitchon said employees felt they were not getting the support they needed to cope with stress, with the result that stress-related problems too frequently developed into more serious mental health conditions.
The poll surveyed 503 workers across different positions in the City of London.