A survey has found that managers at work have more impact on people’s mental health than doctors or therapists – and around the same as an employee’s partner or spouse
Work thinktank, Workforce Institute’s report found that 69 per cent of employees say that managers impact their mental health, which is a bigger impact than doctors (51 per cent) and therapists (41 per cent) – and the same as the impact made by the employee’s partner or spouse (69 per cent).
The survey, called Mental Health at Work: Managers and Money, was based on responses from 3,400 people across 10 countries and highlights the important role that people’s jobs, the leadership they have at work and their individual managers can play in supporting their mental wellbeing.
Other key findings from the report include:
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Work stress negatively impacts employees’ home lives (71 per cent), wellbeing (64 per cent) and relationships (62 per cent).
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Over 80 per cent of employees say they would rather have good mental health than a high-paying job.
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Two-thirds of respondents would be willing to take a pay cut for a job that better supports their mental wellness – and 70 per cent of managers said they would too.
Meanwhile, 40 per cent of people said they are “often” or “always” stressed about work. But even when admitting that their workload is a problem, 38 per cent say they have “rarely” or “never” talked with their manager about it. And when asked “why not?”, here were the responses: “my manager wouldn’t care” (16 per cent); “my manager is too busy” (13 per cent), while others have a sense that they “should be able to figure it out” on their own (20 per cent).
The report said: “When companies focus on doing right by their employees, by respecting and caring for them as individuals with unique needs, we might finally start to see a shift in the way work affects mental health – a positive shift.”
If you are struggling with your mental health, find local sources of support on this website
