Stress in the home office and constant availability: The pandemic also challenges many working people – but only a few are better supported by employers, shows a survey on mental health at work. A development that could take revenge in the long term.
A call during the lunch break. Is it the boss who wants to inquire about the status of a project? Better to turn off the stove for a moment and quickly switch to the laptop. The eye falls on the mailbox. New mails have also been received. You can still work on them quickly. A meeting is due in 15 minutes. Back to the break? It’s no longer worth it.
Working from home was and is widespread in many companies due to the corona pandemic. Digital tools such as zoom or teams make communication easier, but often also result in constant availability. The workload has also increased in many other areas as a result of the corona pandemic, for example among medical staff as well as nurses and doctors in clinics.
Little support, a lot of stress
Is there also a broader range of support options? What measures do companies offer to cushion the extra stress and ensure the mental health of employees?
A survey on behalf of the job portal “Indeed” shows that many companies are pulling out of responsibility: According to 58 percent of those surveyed, since the pandemic, the employer has not taken any new measures to support the mental well-being of employees. After all, almost every fifth employed person (18 percent) reports improvements. Almost the same number also names deterioration since the pandemic (15 percent). In cooperation with the opinion research institute YouGov, a total of 2039 employees were surveyed.
On the other hand, there are more than a third of those surveyed who have felt more stressful at work since the outbreak of the coronavirus (35 percent). For respondents who are currently suffering from mental illness or have been mentally ill in the past, the value is even higher (49 percent and 41 percent, respectively). Just ten percent say they have felt less stressed since the beginning of the pandemic (10 percent).
Mentally ill people can rarely speak openly about the topic on the job
The survey also shows how widespread mental illnesses are: over a quarter of the employed people surveyed (29 percent) stated that they are currently mentally ill or have had a mental illness in the past. On the other hand, there are comparatively few offers of support from employers: More than half of the respondents (63 percent) reported no specific offers. After all, 23 percent of the working population reported seminars on education, relaxation or resilience as well as the reduction of overtime.
How could working people be better supported? The employees also answered this question and provided specific solutions. First and foremost is the desire for more free time, such as reducing overtime in the form of vacation (42 percent). This is followed by the four-day week (39 percent) and more additional days off (37 percent).
Mental illnesses are often still a taboo at work
35 percent would like a more open exchange between colleagues. Mental illnesses, as the survey also shows, still seem to be a taboo topic in many places in the professional environment: 59 percent of those surveyed who are currently mentally ill stated that they did not openly discuss the topic of mental health and mental health at work Disturbances to be able to speak. 54 percent of those with the disease state that a four-day week at work would help them best. 31 percent would like psychological support.
One of the participants in the survey was Prof. Dr. Hannes Zacher, psychologist and professor for work and organizational psychology at the University of Leipzig, is involved. In view of the survey results, he comes to a sobering conclusion: “Unfortunately, many companies seem to focus primarily on the efficiency of processes and high productivity – and forget that the mental health of their employees not only leads to good performance in the short term, but also in the long term represents an important resource in an aging society. “
Earlier surveys also showed that for many working people the stresses had increased in times of lockdown and pandemic. The Technical University (TU) Chemnitz had in cooperation with the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK). Around 60 percent of those in employment who work from home stated that the boundaries between work and private life blurred in the home office. More than one in four (27 percent) found this to be a burden.
The current online survey now suggests that these additional burdens persist for some working people. The survey took place between September 16 and 26, 2021.
Sources: Indeed / Techniker Krankenkasse
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
