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

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

CoronavirusMental healthOccupational HealthWellbeing

Return to office will affect staff wellbeing, say managers

by Ashleigh Webber 23 Apr 2021
by Ashleigh Webber 23 Apr 2021 Occupational health is critical to helping reopen the economy post pandemic. But can it deliver? Photo: Shutterstock
Occupational health is critical to helping reopen the economy post pandemic. But can it deliver? Photo: Shutterstock

Almost two-thirds (62%) of managers believe the return to the office has or will have an impact on employee wellbeing, highlighting the need for organisations to prioritise support as the UK emerges from its third lockdown.

A survey of more than 1,200 managers by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) found that more than half (56%) felt the overall mental health of their employees had worsened because of the pandemic.

Mental health

CPD: Workplace trauma post-pandemic (webinar)

High pressure work a key business risk for 95% of organisations

Managers themselves were also feeling the strain, and 44% agreed that their mental health had suffered.

The issue is, however, high on the business agenda, and 83% of managers agreed their organisation prioritised the mental health of their staff.

Despite this, 22% of managers were apprehensive about using corporate employee assistance programmes.

Ann Francke, CMI chief executive, said: “It’s not surprising that so many people feel that the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns have had an adverse effect on their mental health and wellbeing. What is worrying is that employees are hesitant about using their companies’ employee assistance programmes.

“As leaders of any organisation, we have a duty of care to ensure that the mental health and wellbeing of our staff is prioritised and that effective support is offered where needed. This means equipping our managers with the skills and knowledge of how to spot any signs of people struggling with mental health issues.

“Giving them the support to understand how and when to intervene or signpost in an appropriate and timely manner. We must also ensure that we’re keeping an eye on our managers too, those who may be prioritising everyone else’s needs above their own.”

Dr Lynne Green, consultant clinical psychologist and chief clinical officer at online mental health support provider Kooth, said: “Returning to the workplace is likely to be anxiety-provoking for many people and we should all be alert for any changes in ‘usual presentation’ which may suggest increasing stress levels or deteriorating mental health of our colleagues.

CMI is offering its members access to the Kooth digital mental health platform. Kooth said Covid-19 had triggered a 73% increase in the usage of its mental health service by adults.

Ashleigh Webber
Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is editor at OHW+ and 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. Prior to joining Personnel Today in 2018, she covered the road transport sector for Commercial Motor and Motor Transport magazines, touching on some of the employment and wellbeing issues experienced by those in road haulage.

previous post
WeWork: Billion Dollar Loser author talks to Oven-Ready HR
next post
Patel urged to delay return to in-person right-to-work checks

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

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

You may also like

Employers must help employees ‘flourish’ post-pandemic

27 May 2022

Burnout afflicts finance sector despite hybrid working

26 May 2022

Nurses leaving due to pressure and workplace culture

18 May 2022

The seven dimensions of wellness at work (webinar)

13 May 2022

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

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

Brain fog: the menopause symptom impacting women at...

4 May 2022

Employee assistance programmes step up response to Ukraine...

13 Apr 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