Only one in five (22%) of employee respondents felt that their employer takes active steps to help them manage stress, according to research by charity Mind.
The research, which surveyed more than 2,000 employees, found that a third (36%) of respondents believe that looking after staff mental wellbeing is an organisational priority.
The research also found:
- 45% of respondents felt they are expected to cope without mentioning stress at work.
- 31% said they would not be able to talk openly to their line manager if they felt stressed.
- 42% of respondents believe that, in their workplace, stress is regarded as a sign of weakness or that you cannot cope.
- 32% think time off for stress is treated as seriously as time off for physical illness.
- 42% of respondents believe that time off for stress is seen as an excuse for something else.
Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, said: “These figures show that stress remains the elephant in the room in many workplaces.
“It is vital that managers are equipped with the tools they need to be able to confidently and effectively support their staff, whether they are experiencing stress or mental health problems as a result of work or other factors.
“There is a real danger that organisations are neglecting workplace mental health, with huge implications for staff wellbeing, not to mention productivity, motivation and sickness absence.
“Employers depend on their staff and there are lots of small, inexpensive measures they can put in place to improve wellbeing and make a huge difference to all staff.”
