#WorldMentalHealthDay: How can employers help their staff?

Recent research by Canada Life has highlighted that only 20% of workers take time off work for stress-related illnesses. This means that 5.8 million UK workers go into work when they’re mentally unwell.

Yet, some firms are beginning to take the lead when it comes to their employee’s mental health, choosing to allow firms to recover costs for medical appointments, and take time off for said appointments that doesn’t impact on annual leave.

Natural HR, a Birmingham-based software business, are one such firm. Speaking to The Guardian, co-Founder Sarah Dowzell, explained how they work to make employees feel comfortable sharing their mental health battles.

She said: “It’s important to ensure employees realise it’s just as acceptable to take time off for mental health as it is to go to the dentist.”