Just under two-thirds of UK employees would like their employers to provide them with more support during the most recent lockdown restrictions. However, over half are skeptical that their employer will offer this help.
New research from Totaljobs, a jobs board, has shown that almost two-thirds of UK employees (64 per cent) want further help from their employer during lockdown.
However, over half (52 per cent) feel that they will not receive this help as employers believe that their workers are used to being in lockdown, having lived and worked through it once before in the spring of 2020.
This is certainly true from the majority of UK workers. Over three-quarters (76 per cent) stated that they would learn from the previous lockdown and adapt their daily routine. Conversely, almost a third (29 per cent) responded that their working situation would not be affected by lockdown.
Mental health could be set to worsen within this second lockdown. One-third (33 per cent) were worried about isolation and loneliness during the lockdown whilst over one in three (36 per cent) believed that this second lockdown would impact their stress levels.
During the first lockdown, only 6 per cent reported openly speaking to their employers or colleagues about their mental health. As a result, under a fifth of employees (15 per cent) want more support and workshops linked to wellbeing and mental health, provided by either HR departments or external help lines.
Additionally, physical wellbeing is also not a priority for some workers. Only 14 per cent plan to take off time for a lunch break or time away from their computer. Additionally, only around one in three (35 per cent) have stated that they will make the effort to leave the house on a daily basis.
Jon Wilson, CEO of Totaljobs, said:
As we all work our way through this winter period, employers should continue to take practical steps to maintain the wellness of our teams and ensure that individuals don’t end up isolated or disconnected. WFH may have been something we got accustomed to this year, but isn’t always a fully positive experience for all workers.
Keep an eye on your team, consider training and workshops on how to deal with anxiety, encourage them to take breaks and speak with each other, and assess if there’s anything you can do as an employer, to improve their physical and mental wellbeing in their working conditions, be it for the remainder of this current lockdown, or longer as the situation develops.
*This research was conducted by Totaljobs who surveyed 2,000 workers in the UK between the 4th and 6th November.
Monica Sharma is an English Literature graduate from the University of Warwick. As Editor for HRreview, her particular interests in HR include issues concerning diversity, employment law and wellbeing in the workplace. Alongside this, she has written for student publications in both England and Canada. Monica has also presented her academic work concerning the relationship between legal systems, sexual harassment and racism at a university conference at the University of Western Ontario, Canada.
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