More than a quarter (26%) of respondents are afraid to tell their employer when they are suffering with poor mental health, according to research by CV Library.
The survey of 2,000 UK professionals also found that 39% do not think their employer would care that they were experiencing poor mental health, with 33% feeling they would be unfairly judged by their manager. A further 30% find their employer to be unapproachable when it comes to speaking about mental health.
Lee Biggins (pictured), founder and chief executive officer at CV Library, said: “Poor mental health can take on many forms; whether it’s a drop in productivity, general detachment or burnout. As an employer, it’s important to watch out for these symptoms and act immediately to support employees. Becoming complacent could cost [businesses] severely.”
Almost half (47%) of respondents stated that poor mental health has affected their performance at work; 55% report feeling constantly stressed and 48% worry about failure. More than a third (36%) believe they are unable to take on new challenges because of self-doubt.
Almost three in 10 (29%) reported feeling anxious about key aspects of their job: 31% fear being fired, 29% worry about neglecting personal relationships because of work and 19% are anxious because of their boss.
Biggins added: “There’s no better time than the present for employers to focus on addressing mental health in the workplace and to take further steps to ease employees’ concerns. Every workplace has different needs, so a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work when it comes to mental health.
“It’s important to consider what will work for [the] business and ensure that support is always available to those who need it. On a more personal level, don’t underestimate the power of simply asking employees ‘how are you doing?’ Creating the chance for an open dialogue can ensure early prevention and intervention.”