Mental health is an important part of overall well-being, and it plays a vital role in workplace success. It’s a topic that many organisations are increasingly aware of, after it was thrust into spotlight as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the mental health crisis that followed. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the pandemic triggered a 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide – something that undoubtedly impacts on workplace productivity and culture.
Employee well-being in the UK: where are we at?
According to the 2023 Workplace Health Report by employee wellbeing platform Champion Health, a worrying 76% of UK professionals are experiencing “moderate to high levels of stress”. While it could be argued that a certain amount of stress is unavoidable at work, 35% of professionals reported a negative impact from stress they experience at work, with 2% saying they were overwhelmed and unable to cope.
Data on anxiety and depression revealed that 60% of employees feel anxious, with 56% experiencing symptoms of depression. Outside the workplace, financial pressure negatively impacts 37% of individuals overall, with younger employees particularly affected. As for physical health, 41% of employees reported experiencing musculoskeletal pain.
The impact on productivity
The Workplace Health Report 2023 found that poor mental health is cited by almost 1 in 5 employees as a factor that impacts on their productivity. A further 17% reported that their musculoskeletal pain was severe enough to negatively affect their productivity.
This adds up to damaging levels of presenteeism – the loss of productivity in the workplace that takes place when employees are not functioning at their best but continue to come into work each day. It also makes its presence known in growing levels of absenteeism, a costly trend which has risen sharply since the pandemic. For organisations, the net outcome, whether a person is present at work but not performing, or calling in sick on a regular basis, is the same.
There is a risk of increased workloads being placed on those who are present and carrying out their roles, something that could create a vicious circle of additional pressure and stress. Customer satisfaction levels could also be threatened, with fewer people able to deliver the high standards of service that clients have come to expect. A loss of productivity and missed deadlines also negatively impacts the business bottom line – something which could result in job losses or cuts in other areas.
What can be done?
Supporting employee wellbeing is important from a business perspective as well as a human one, and it’s well worth investing resources into. Many companies have realised this, but they often take a reactive approach rather than a proactive one – meaning that employees often only get help when they reach a crisis point. Taking pre-emptive steps to ensure employees thrive in the workplace, and never get to that crisis point in the first place, is a far better, less costly and more strategic approach.
Improving mental health across a team could be achieved as easily as offering flexible working hours and hybrid working where possible. Not only does this create a better work/life balance, but hybrid working also often leads to savings for most employees. With no transport or commuting costs to finance, the financial benefits of hybrid can mimic a salary raise where an actual increase is not possible.
Companies can also take measures to help their employees cope with stress by offering wellness programs, such as a company gym membership or yoga classes, to provide stress relief in the form of physical activity.
Providing access to mental health resources, and creating an environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their issues with colleagues and supervisors, will further foster a positive environment which promotes higher levels of workplace wellbeing.
