A recent survey conducted by the global benefits provider, Perkbox uncovered that a staggering 92% of GPs who responded had seen an increase in the number of people seeking medical guidance for work-related mental health issues. Moreover, a staggering four in ten patients seeking work-related stress and anxiety support had been signed-off work.
According to the GPs who responded to the survey, the top three most reported contributing factors to this crisis are:
- Financial insecurity (45%)
- Returning to the workplace (43%)
- Increased workload (39%)
Against this alarming backdrop, employers are being called upon to take greater responsibility in supporting their employees – as these experiences make a significant impact on workers’ lives. Perkbox also surveyed just over 2,000 full-time employees in the UK, more than half of whom agree their sleep and diet was disrupted by work-related stress, while worryingly nearly one third report an increase in alcohol consumption.
Work-related stress is now widely recognised and documented as a serious health and safety issue, and one that all employers must address in order to comply with UK health and safety legislation. In other words, an employer must treat work-related stress like any other health hazard.
The law states that employers have to try to remove or reduce stress “as far as is reasonably practical”. Under Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 employers have a general duty of care to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all their employees and this includes employees’ mental health.
Now, more than ever, businesses are relying on technology to help them to manage their legal obligations and importantly, understand how to best provide tailored support for employees, at both company policy and individual levels
For an informal discussion on how Riskex can help, contact us on 01908 915272
