25 JAN 2024
1 in 5 employees experience burnout as long-term sickness hits record highs
Recent research by Mental Health UK reveals a concerning trend: 20% of UK workers have taken leave due to stress-related issues in the past year, marking a significant rise in long-term sickness absence.
Brian Dow, the CEO of Mental Health UK, highlights the urgency of the situation: “The UK is rapidly becoming a burnout nation. A significant number of individuals are stepping away from work due to stress-induced poor mental health.”
This alarming trend is echoed in the latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which show that economic inactivity due to long-term illness has surged to a record high, with 2.58 million people off work since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in January 2020.
The CIPD and Simplyhealth survey in 2023 reported that 76% of organisations observed stress-related absences. Dow emphasises that the mental health of employees is deteriorating amidst the cost of living crisis and global tensions.
Mental Health UK's research points to various factors contributing to burnout: excessive workload (54%), unpaid overtime (45%), and workplace isolation (42%). Additionally, 38% reported increased stress due to additional work brought on by the cost of living crisis.
Nebel Crowhurst of Reward Gateway suggests that employers can mitigate these issues through effective benefits packages, such as interest-free loans for essentials or support with major life decisions.
Preventive measures for burnout, as cited by respondents, include maintaining a healthy work-life balance (56%), supportive management (43%), and colleague support (42%). Other significant factors are workplace adjustments, professional mental health support, and mental health training at work.
Dow urges the government and employers to devise a strategy to combat this crisis. Nearly half of the workers surveyed believe their employers lack a plan to address chronic stress and prevent burnout.
Dow concludes: “A national conversation led by the government is crucial for devising strategies to keep people employed and mentally healthy. Employers also play a key role in identifying and managing stress before it escalates to burnout. While there's no one-size-fits-all solution, failure to address these challenges could have long-term detrimental effects on our nation's health and success.” Mental Health UK's study involved 2,000 UK adults.