53% of employees say bosses don’t care about their mental health and wellbeing

More than half of all employees (53%) believe their employer is showing a lack of concern about their wellbeing or mental health during the current coronavirus lockdown, new research from payroll, HR and analytics experts, MHR reveals.

Polling 5,000 UK employees, the research found two-thirds of respondents (66%) are worried about the effects of the pandemic on their job, with more than three-quarters (76%) wanting increased contact with their managers to discuss their health and wellbeing, performance and workload.

The poll found less than a quarter of managers (24%) regularly check in with their employees to talk about mental health and wellbeing. 43% of employees said their manager makes no effort at all to check in with them during the current lockdown, despite the duty of care employers have for the wellbeing of their workforce.

“As we enter Mental Health Awareness Week, our poll clearly highlights the need for more regular communication between managers and employees. Organisations must utilise technology to connect their remote workforce and enable better people engagement. Organisations need to prioritise creating a culture of collaboration, transparency and kindness during this difficult time,” said Anton Roe, CEO, MHR.

“Many employees find themselves in isolated situations when working from home, and the physical workplace was an important means of social interaction. It is essential that managers demonstrate to employees that their safety and wellbeing is paramount. Regular check-ins can help managers and employees to stay connected. This gives a useful insight to the line manager about how an employee is faring in the current climate and provide the necessary reassurance and support to aid their mental wellbeing,” said Anton Roe, MHR.