A survey of more than 6,000 workers found the number of people saying work has a positive impact on their mental health has fallen from 44 per cent to 35 per cent.
CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, has released its annual Good Work Index report. It assesses seven key measurements that contribute to job quality over the long-term, including: pay and benefits, contracts, work–life balance, job design, relationships at work, employee voice and health and wellbeing.
The report shows that people’s jobs are not just affecting their work–life balance – for many, it is having a serious impact on their mental health. The CIPD is warning that the COVID-19 crisis is only likely to heighten these issues.
In response, the CIPD is recommending that employers promote healthy working practices, for example:
- Ask about workloads and ensure employees are not under excessive pressure
- Ensure managers are well trained in having supportive, sensitive discussions on wellbeing – and that they recognise the importance of regular communication in a world of remote working
- Promote existing health and wellbeing benefits, such as their counselling helpline
- Give workers more autonomy or control over how, when and where they work, to help them manage work pressures.
Jonny Gifford, Senior Research Adviser at the CIPD, said:
“Even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, work was becoming worse for our health. This is the complete opposite of how it should be – work can and should have a positive impact on people’s lives.
“As the full scale of the economic crisis unfolds, the outlook looks even bleaker. We’ll likely see employers trying to do more with less, which will only increase people’s workload and the pressure they are already under. Many people will also be worried about losing their job or living on a reduced income.
“While the Government is right to focus on protecting as many jobs as possible, it should also be encouraging employers to look at job quality. Not only is there a moral imperative to do so, but if people are happy and healthy in their jobs they also perform better, take less time off and are less likely to drop out of the workforce. In the long run, this will help us get on the road to economic recovery sooner.”
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