Around 91% of millennial workers believe being unable to work due to illness or injury would affect their personal confidence, according to a new survey from income protection provider Cirencester Friendly.
The survey found that whilst the majority in all generations believe being unable to work due to ill health would affect their personal confidence, around four in ten (37%) millennials think it would have a major impact, which is significantly higher than for Gen Zs, with just 23% saying it would have a major impact.
It also found that more than eight out of 10 workers think that if they couldn’t work due to illness or injury, it would damage their personal confidence. A third believe it would have a major impact and only 8% of workers think it would have no effect at all. This dent to confidence could hamper the speed of recovery and delay a return to work.
Additionally, when it comes to associating a sense of purpose with work, millennials again are the ones most likely to concur with this sentiment. Around 45% say strongly agree, which is notably higher than for Gen Zs (36%) and Gen Xs (30%).
Elsewhere, women’s personal confidence would be more likely to be affected than men’s. Around 38% believe it would have a major impact, compared to 28% of men and only 6% of women think it would have no effect at all. Women are also slightly more likely than men to agree that work provides them with a sense of purpose.
Director of Distribution, Alan Waddington said: “Work has a huge impact on how we feel about ourselves and our worth. These results show that it is millennials, those people currently aged 28 to 43, who feel this most keenly. This is the generation that are likely to be settled in their careers with retirement still a far-off prospect. Work is often what defines them and if they are unable to play an active role in the economy due to illness or injury, they are likely to be deeply affected. To help them recover fully, it’s important we acknowledge this impact on their emotions.
“This strong connection between work and self-esteem is why we’ve invested in providing additional support to claimants of all ages, providing extra services to help build their confidence and ensure when they are physically able to return to work, they are mentally fit to do so too.”
