Only one in six UK workers feel their mental health is well supported by their employer, despite employee wellbeing being high on organisations’ agenda as they emerge from the pandemic.
Research by healthcare “top-ups” provider Lime Global finds that just 16% of workers agree that their mental wellbeing is very well supported at work, with 42% stating that they expect their employer to do more to support mental health.
Lime’s report raises concerns about “pleasanteeism” – the idea that people feel under pressure to put on a brave face around others – and the affect it might have on employee resilience. More than half of the 2,132 workers surveyed for the report feel they have to hide their concerns from colleagues and a quarter who are returning to the office after working from home are worried about having to be the “best version” of themselves at work.
It suggests that employee mental health has worsened significantly over the course of the pandemic, with 40% feeling less resilient now than before the pandemic.
People are also struggling to cope at work (26%) and in every day life (34%).
Asked what employers could do to help, 25% agree that organisations should be more mindful about workload and work/life balance; 22% want greater flexibility in working hours; 20% want time out of work to deal with personal commitments; and 20% want to be able to take days off for their mental health.
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“The past 18 months has had a huge impact on people’s lives, including on their mental health and resilience. The long-term repercussions of the pandemic are likely to be felt for years to come, and it’s important we act now to be aware of and prioritise both our own mental health and that of those around us,” said Shaun Williams, CEO and founder of Lime Global.
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“We know that employers have a lot on their plates and each workforce will require unique approaches for tackling mental health challenges. But there are plenty of simple and affordable avenues for doing so. It’s only by drawing attention to and prioritising mental health in the workplace that we can support one another to be as healthy, resilient, happy and productive as possible.”
The research, conducted by Censuswise for Lime Global, also finds that:
- Over two thirds (69%) of respondents think barriers exist to getting support for mental health, increasing to a 93% among16-24-year-olds
- 36% want to take control of their mental health but do not know how
- 18% do not feel comfortable talking about their mental health
- 16% worry about taking time out of work for any counselling or treatment.
