Mental Health at Work 2019: Time To Take Ownership
YouGov survey data from more than 4,000 employees forms the basis of the Mental Health at Work 2019: Time to Take Ownership report. The report shows that progress is being made, with evidence of increased awareness and positive action. However, it is not happening with the scale and speed needed. Unacceptably, some employers are still contributing to the psychological harm experienced by their staff through poor business practices and culture. To address this, the report includes recommendations on how to create positive, inclusive workplace cultures that support employees’ mental health.
2019 is the fourth year of Business in the Community’s (BITC) national Mental Health at Work survey, in partnership with Mercer Marsh Benefits and BITC’s Wellbeing Leadership Team. In the latest findings, 39 per cent of employees have experienced poor mental health due to work, or where work was a contributing factor, in the past year. This figure was 36 per cent in both 2017 and 2018, this increase shows movement in the wrong direction. The three main causes of work-related poor mental health are: too much pressure; workload impacting on ability to take leave; and a lack of support. Employers can do more to relieve that pressure. Negative work relationships and people not feeling able to trust their managers, also have negative effects on people’s mental health.
The report includes recommendations on how to create positive, inclusive workplace cultures that help rather than harm the mental health of the people who work in them. These recommendations are proposed by BITC, Mercer Marsh Benefits and nine key national partners. These are: Chartered Institute for Professional Development (CIPD); Mind; Mental Health at Work; Mental Health First Aid England; Institute of Leadership and Management; Business Disability Forum; Involve; Salary Finance; Society of Occupational Medicine.
Mental Health at Work 2019 Report: Scotland Focus
The Scottish companion to Mental Health at Work 2019: Time to Take Ownership, in partnership with Mercer Marsh Benefits and BITC’s Wellbeing Team, shows that 24 per cent of employees in Scotland have experienced poor mental health due to work, or where work was a contributing factor, in the past month. The three main causes of work-related poor mental health in Scotland are too much pressure, workload impacting on ability to take leave and a lack of support. Employers must do more to relieve this pressure.
Other media
- Watch the Mental Health at Work 2019 Report: Time to Take Ownership webinar
- A series of videos were produced for the launch of the report. Employees and managers from Anglian Water, Costain, Bupa, Santander, National Grid, and Lloyds Banking Group.
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