Employers have been urged to rethink their approach to managing mental health absences as 5.3 million people, 16 percent of the UK working population, have been signed off sick for mental health reasons in 2024.
Younger workers have been hit hardest as three in ten Gen Z workers (1.7 million young people) were signed off sick for mental health reasons this year.
The survey of 3,004 adults, conducted by Censuswide on behalf of mental health provider Unmind, found that four in five workers report that their workplace contributed to the decline in their mental health, while one in five said their company had penalised them for having been off sick.
A fifth (20 percent) of survey respondents said their workplace had not acknowledged their requests for adjustments when they returned to work.
The survey results highlight the gap between need and provision, as 19 percent said they would be uncomfortable telling their employer they need time off for mental health reasons. This number increases to 26 percent among women and 27 percent for employees over 55.
While mental health support options such as employee assistance programmes (EAP) are available, just 41 percent of respondents were aware their company has an EAP. Among employees that were aware, Gen Z are by far the most proactive at accessing the support at 63 percent compared to 40 percent generally.
Unmind said that flexible working and AI could help to improve employee mental health. Its survey found that employees would like work support options to go beyond EAPs. For example, more than a third (35 percent) of employees prioritise flexible working. Separate research from International Workplace Group showed that 80 percent of employees reported a significant improvement in overall wellbeing as a result of the greater flexibility offered by hybrid working.
Research by Stanford Professor Nicholas Bloom found that productivity increased in flexible working companies by around 3-4 percent.
AI also has a role in wellbeing as 29 percent of employees said they would trust AI wellbeing advice. This trust is significantly higher among younger workers, with 47 percent of 18-24s and 46 percent of 25-34s saying they would trust AI wellbeing support..
Nick Taylor, CEO and co-founder of Unmind, said: “Employers must step up to help their staff thrive, especially younger employees disproportionately affected by mental health-related absences. It’s time for workplaces to go beyond traditional support systems and embrace the flexibility and innovation today’s employees are asking for.”
“It’s time for employers to embrace a more holistic approach to wellbeing, one that goes beyond traditional EAPs and incorporates the flexibility and innovation that today’s employees are clearly asking for. We are committed to being at the forefront of this change, helping to build a world where mental health is universally understood, nurtured, and celebrated.”
