Workers locally and across the UK have become “less open” about their mental health since the outbreak of Coronavirus, with fears around job security a key factor in many choosing not to speak up.
The claims are supported by new data published by the Enterprise Research Centre, following research conducted through interviews with managers working for British firms.
The study also reveals divisions of opinion between workplace teams, with ‘furlough envy’ a particular bone of contention.
The findings recommend that more investment is made in raising awareness among employers of the resources available to support staff mental health.
A number of key contributory factors were revealed in the study, with remote working resulting in staff feeling less able to speak out about their personal mental wellbeing.
Anxiety related to being furloughed has also been cited as a factor in the issue, with feelings of isolation from colleagues having a negative effect.
Overall, people have become less likely to admit to experiencing mental health problems since the start of lockdown.
This has been compounded, according to some participants, by the fact that many people were working from home.
The volume of staff working from home has, in turn, reduced the regularity of face-to-face interactions where changes in behaviour could be spotted.
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