Generation Z and Britain’s young millennial workforce lack the equivalent of a day’s work every week due to mental health struggles, new research has shown.
Analysis done The vitalityThe health and life insurer, which has more than 30 million members worldwide, found that the average UK worker feels unable to work for almost 50 days a year, costing the British economy £138 billion ($176 billion).
For those under 30, the number of lost productive days rises to 60, while Gen Xers and baby boomers say they are mentally absent for an average of 36.3 workdays per year, a significant difference of 64%.
The reason for the challenge, according to Vitality’s findings, is dire: younger and less affluent workers are facing mental health challenges without adequate support from employers.
While physical health struggles led to a 54% drop in productivity, mental health issues hit hard, causing a staggering 150% loss in productive days, especially for young people.
Rates of depression are twice as high among younger workers, along with higher levels of burnout and burnout, compared to older workers.
Adding to the tension, those earning less than £30,000 ($38,000) a year feel 86% more excluded in their workplace than their higher-earning colleagues.
This likely resulted in the 2023 workforce taking an average of just six sick days, with the majority of lost hours due to inefficient work.
Basically, for 54 days a year, Gen Zers clock in, but because of mental barriers and a reluctance to ask for help from higher-ups.
Only a quarter of employees use the company’s wellness tools
Although companies offer mental health support to their employees, take-up is very low.
Only 25% of the 4,000 people surveyed said they used the wellness tools offered by their employer.
However, 85% of those who used it found it useful, suggesting that employers have difficulty communicating the support available to them, or that the majority of employees are afraid to accept employer support.
Vitality’s CEO, Neville Koopowitz, emphasized that companies need to get better at shouting about their support resources.
“If occupational health is properly managed, business and the economy will benefit significantly,” said Koopowitz.
Burnout is causing a rise in mental health days at work
Vitality’s research comes as the charity Mental Health UK warns Britain is on the brink of becomingburnt nation“.
According to the 2024 Burnout Report, nine out of 10 adults have experienced high or extreme levels of pressure and stress at some point in the past year and one in five have taken time off as a result.
What’s more, he stated that young workers are statistically the most likely to suffer and take time off.
“The UK is fast becoming a burnout nation, with an alarming number of people taking time off work due to stress-related ill-health,” said Brian Dow, chief executive of Mental Health UK.
“The high level of absenteeism due to poor mental health is a major challenge, but its causes are complex.”
Ultimately, the report calls on British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to get to the bottom of the problem and help businesses tackle the cost of chronic absenteeism.
Dow also floated the idea of a “national summit” with government officials and experts on “how we can create healthy workplaces and better help people return to or return to work if they are struggling with stress and poor mental health.”
Are you a young worker struggling to be productive at work due to mental health issues? We’d love to hear your story. Contact: orianna.royle@fortune.com.
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