Gen Z and young millennial employees in Britain are struggling with mental health issues, leading to the equivalent of a day’s work being missed every week, according to new research.
Vitality, a health and life insurer with over 30 million members worldwide, conducted an analysis revealing that the average worker in the U.K. feels unable to work for almost 50 days a year, resulting in a staggering £138 billion ($176 billion) cost to the British economy.
For individuals under 30 years old, the number of productive days lost rises to 60, while Gen X and baby boomers report being mentally absent for an average of 36.3 workdays a year—a significant 64% difference.
The root cause, as per Vitality’s findings, is that younger, less affluent workers are facing mental health challenges without sufficient support from their employers.
While physical health struggles led to a 54% decrease in productivity, mental health issues had a much more significant impact, resulting in a 150% loss of productive days, particularly among the youth.
Depression rates are twice as high among younger workers, along with elevated levels of burnout and fatigue compared to older employees.
In addition, those earning under £30,000 ($38,000) annually feel 86% more neglected by their workplace than higher-income colleagues.
This likely explains the statistic from 2023 showing that workers took an average of just six sick days, with the majority of lost hours attributed to ineffective work.
Essentially, for 54 days a year, Gen Zers are present at work but struggle to achieve anything due to mental barriers and a reluctance to seek help from their superiors.
Only a quarter of employees actually use company wellness tools
Even when companies offer mental health support for their employees, the uptake is surprisingly low.
Only 25% of the 4000 individuals surveyed reported using the wellness tools provided by their employer.
However, 85% of those who did use the tools found them helpful, indicating that either employers are struggling to promote the available support or that most employees are hesitant to accept assistance from their employer.
Vitality’s CEO, Neville Koopowitz, emphasized the need for companies to better communicate about their support resources.
“If health at work is managed effectively, both businesses and the wider economy can benefit significantly,” Koopowitz stated.
Burnout is leading to an increase in mental health days off work
Vitality’s research coincides with the warning from the charity Mental Health UK that Britain is heading towards becoming a “burnt-out nation.”
The 2024 Burnout Report from Mental Health UK revealed that nine out of 10 adults have experienced high or extreme levels of pressure and stress in the past year, with one in five taking time off as a result.
Furthermore, the report highlighted that young employees are the most likely to be struggling and taking time off work.
“The U.K. is rapidly becoming a burnt-out nation, and a concerning number of individuals are taking time off work due to poor mental health caused by stress,” said Brian Dow, the chief executive of Mental Health UK.
“High levels of work absence due to poor mental health pose a significant challenge, but the causes are multifaceted.”
Ultimately, the report calls on Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to address the issue and assist businesses in dealing with the costs of continuous absences.
Dow even suggested the idea of a “national summit” involving government officials and experts to provide guidance on “how we can create healthy workplaces and best support individuals struggling with stress and poor mental health to remain in or return to work.”
Are you a young worker experiencing difficulties in being productive at work due to mental health issues? We would like to hear your story. Please contact us at [email protected].