As people across the UK face a difficult winter with the economy contracting and energy bills rising, employees are turning to their employers for stability, with new research showing that almost nine in ten (85%) workers say employers should play a role in their mental health and wellbeing.
The data comes from research conducted by YouGov on behalf of Lattice, revealing employee attitudes, and opinions on wellness within the workplace. Conducted in August 2022, the survey includes responses from over 2,000 GB-based employees at small, medium and large enterprises.
Key findings:-
1. Over four in ten of GB (41%) employees do not have access to mental health and wellbeing resources via their employer, rising to 73% for employees working in small businesses (less than 50 staff).
2. However, while large companies (250+ employees) are providing far more wellness resources for their staff, uptake of resources available remains low
3. Over two-thirds of employees (68%) within these organisations have not made use of the wellness resources available to them in the past six months.
4. When asked to pick their top three reasons for not engaging more with wellness resources, the most chosen reason was that they do not feel like they need any wellness/mental health resources. Some workers still struggle with the topic of mental health, as 15% said they feel uncomfortable engaging or discussing wellness in the workplace, and 8% are concerned how engaging on the topic will impact peoples’ perception of them.
5. Nearly one quarter (23%) of employees said their mental health and wellbeing has declined in the last 12 months,which could lead to burnout.
“The last few years have put individuals under an increasing amount of stress at home and in the workplace. As we enter a winter recession, it’s critical that businesses remain vigilant in safeguarding their staff,” said Cara Brennan Allamano, Chief People Officer at Lattice. “For businesses to thrive, particularly in an economic crisis, they need high-performing teams. Central to this is the wellbeing of staff, offering the right support and resources to motivate and avoid burnout. However, this research reveals employers still have some way to go in tackling this issue head on.”
“Our findings highlight that employers are still getting wellness in the workplace wrong”, added Seth Kramer, Head of EMEA, Lattice. “It’s important to remember that a one-size-fits all approach to mental health and wellbeing is never the solution, but employees want a concerted benefits package that demonstrates an appreciation and understanding of their needs.”
