One third of businesses concerned about impact of lockdowns on employee mental health
A third of British businesses are concerned about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns on employee mental health, new research has found.
A survey of 150 small and medium-sized business owners and 150 executives at larger companies found that 44pc of companies had held board-level discussions about the mental health impact of the pandemic on staff.
The survey was carried out by Driving for Better Business, a Government-backed campaign run by Highways England that is attempting to reduce the risks for drivers.
Its research has found that 39pc of small and medium-sized companies were concerned that the pandemic was placing pressure on the mental health of employees, compared to 24pc of larger businesses.
Only a quarter of businesses are providing mental health support to employees during the pandemic, the campaign found, while 27pc of businesses were able to measure the mental health of working employees. Just 26pc of businesses surveyed were monitoring the mental health of their furloughed staff.
Highways England has warned that the suicide rate for van drivers is 25pc higher than the national average and said the pandemic could cause further stress for drivers.
Increased demand on drivers during lockdown has exacerbated problems such as unpredictable journey times and a lack of social interaction, the campaign said.
“For van drivers, the risks associated with fatigue and stress are particularly problematic, as they are at risk of working long hours, in isolation and with little oversight from their employers,” said Dr Paul Jackson, a chartered psychologist and fatigue risk management specialist.
The campaign has partnered with CALM to produce 20,000 driver information packs that raise awareness of the charity’s mental health support tools.
Simon Turner, the campaign manager of the Driving for Better Business campaign, said that employers looking after the mental health of their employees “isn’t just morally the right thing to do, it also makes good business sense, helping to keep operations running smoothly, and drivers safe and healthy".
“Our research shows that although there is a good level of awareness at board level on mental health challenges, there is work to be done in communicating and signposting resources to support employees within the workplace,” he added.
