Employees are suffering from anxiety, sleeplessness, and depression during lockdown.
This was discovered by Glassdoor, who found that 40 per cent are suffering from anxiety, 34 per cent from sleeplessness and 22 per cent from depression since the UK entered lockdown. Also, since lockdown began 42 per cent are experiencing a lack of motivation and 40 per cent a lack of energy.
Just under a fifth (19 per cent) have said they felt helpless, 9 per cent from a physical illness and 8 per cent have even experienced suicidal thoughts.
Women have been more negatively affected than men by the lockdown as 47 of women compared to 33 per cent of men have suffered from anxiety. Over a third (39 per cent) of women have reported they are experiencing sleeplessness compared to 29 per cent of men. Also, nearly half (49 per cent) of women state they lack motivation in contrast to 35 per cent of men.
More than a quarter (27 per cent) of employees suffering from these various conditions say it stems from feeling a lack of job security. With a further 26 per cent saying their workload is the main reason for these feelings and 23 per cent attributing these negative factors towards poor communication.
To try and combat what lockdown has brought with it, 28 per cent have increased the amount of exercise they do while 16 per cent have taken up a new hobby. However, some workers have taken more drastic action, with 17 per cent taking time off from work and 13 per cent taking medication and 11 per cent visiting a doctor.
Over a fifth (22 per cent) do not feel their company has looked after their physical and mental wellbeing during lockdown. With 24 per cent saying their managers do not have a positive influence on their wellbeing.
Joe Wiggins, EMEA director at Glassdoor said:
It’s clear UK employees are having a tough time right now, managing heavy workloads, trying to find a work/life balance and staying motivated and energised. Pressure at work comes in a number of different guises and it must be said that a certain amount of pressure is good for motivation and achievement.
However, the lockdown seems to have led to a situation where a worrying proportion of employees are suffering. To help, employees should consider how they can nurture their physical and mental wellbeing, through exercise, hobbies and practicing mindfulness to reduce anxiety, as well as meditation to support quality sleep.
This research was undertaken by OnePoll, a survey-led market research company asking 1,000 UK employees for their opinion on behalf of Glassdoor.
Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.
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