More than a third of workers believe their employers have the greatest responsibility for their health, according to new research.
The study, by Spire Healthcare, has revealed that 38% of the UK workforce believes the onus is on employers when it comes to responsibility for their health. This rises to 46% among those aged 35-44.
The insight comes from a new health-at-work survey of 1,000 employees and 200 employers which also found that nearly half of employees (46%) who have had to take more than a month off work during the past three years, did so due to incidents or health issues directly related to their working environment. In turn, more than two-thirds of employees said they have never been referred to occupational health services by their employer, despite workplace absences rising.
With the UK unemployment rate climbing to its highest point in two years at 4.4%, a near-record 2.8 million too ill to work because of long-term sickness, and the average rate of employee absence in the UK rising to 7.8 days per year, up from 5.8 days before the pandemic, employers are being urged to make employee health and wellbeing a top priority. The survey found that despite increasing absences, 70% of employees said they have never been referred to occupational health services by their employer.
Moreover, 78% think employers should be responsible for supporting physical wellbeing, while 80% said the same for mental wellbeing support.
Mental health support was the most popular service provided by businesses (82%), with it also being the most popular service requested by employees. Some six in 10 employees expressed a desire to access mental health training, Employee Assistance Programmes and counselling through their employer.
The physical and mental impact of working environments on health and wellbeing is also clear, with 57% of employees believing that their working conditions significantly impact their overall health – a figure that jumps to 72% for those aged 25-34.
The most recent Ukie Census highlighted long-term conditions facing the UK games industry workforce – covering neuro-developmental conditions, mental health and physical health. The findings revealed:
Both anxiety and depression – 18%
Physical health condition – 18%
Anxiety – 15%
Depression – 5%
Post-traumatic stress disorder – 4%
Other mental health conditions – 3%
Obsessive-compulsive disorder – 2%
You can read more around this topic in Empower Up’s Mental Health & Wellbeing section.
