More than two-thirds (67%) of respondents feel that domestic issues such as childcare, looking after elderly parents and financial pressures, have an impact on their work performance, according to research by MetLife Employee Benefits.
Its survey of 1,052 full-time employees, also found that 52% of respondents who say their home life impacts their work believe it would be beneficial to discuss home-based issues with managers and colleagues.
The research also found:
- 19% of respondents are more stressed at home than at work.
- 21% of female respondents say their home life is more stressful than work, compared to 15% of male respondents.
- Less than half (46%) of respondents feel able to discuss home stress with their manager.
- 61% of respondents feel able to talk to colleagues about home worries.
Tom Gaynor (pictured), employee benefits director at MetLife UK, said: “When thinking about work-life balance, it’s important to factor in the need for employees not just to spend time away from work, but also to potentially discuss home and family problems with supportive colleagues and managers without fear of being seen as unable to cope.
“Managers have a crucial role to play in helping employees to manage their own stress and we know from our Employee benefit trends study that a supportive manager is a significant driver of employee engagement. Creating a supportive leadership culture helps managers tune into employees’ emotional ups and downs.”