This £100m HR issue is costing UK firms dearly

UK businesses are going through an epidemic that is affecting the very heart of the economy. Firms are losing £100million every year due to staff mental health – including workplace stress, anxiety and depression.

“Nomadic, remote and flexible working practices are the norm today,” explained Paul Finch, CEO of A People Business. “Unfortunately, if poorly managed, it can accentuate mental and physical health problems for a number of reasons. Infrequent or impersonal contact with your team and managers can make it harder to talk about issues and also weakens the informal support network that working environments frequently provide.

“Despite videoconferencing and similar technology, sometimes there’s no substitute for a good chat over a cup of tea.”

And the problem is only predicted to escalate, if HR can’t help stressed-out staff. Research from the NHS, found that 48% of the UK would not feel comfortable talking to their bosses about mental health issues – that’s despite 65% of the population reporting that they are close to someone who has experienced mental illness.