Four in ten workers are now stressed or very stressed, finds Mind researchWorkers suffering from stress or depression are increasingly afraid to admit the problem because of fears of redundancy, research has suggested.
A survey of 2000 people by mental health charity Mind found that 41 per cent of employees are currently feeling stressed or very stressed in their jobs, with two-thirds saying they have been subjected to more pressure from management during the economic downturn. However, 48 per cent say they would be scared to take time off sick, and one in five think that mentioning stress would put them first in line for redundancy.
Work colleagues are still seen as unsympathetic to mental health difficulties, with seven in ten saying that they would not expect any support from their boss if they mentioned their stress. Four in ten described stress as a ‘taboo’ topic at work, while 46 per cent said that taking time off for stress was typically seen as an excuse for something else.
Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, said:”The negativity that persists around stress and mental health problems is unacceptable in a modern workforce. Pressure and stress may be part of our working lives, but failing to recognise that everyone has a limit is a mistake that costs businesses billions of pounds a year. Stigma is so great employees worry that even mentioning stress will lose them their jobs. Mental health problems exist in every workforce, but at the moment it exists as a costly and unaddressed elephant in the room.
In its campaign Taking Care of Business, Mind is encouraging employers to take simple, practical steps to improve workers’ mental health, such as ensuring they take proper breaks and giving them the chance to talk about work pressures.
nurses for a day, childcare, private medical insurance or an assistance line are just some of the available solutions.”
