Staff off sick again? Time to talk mental health

We are the nation of the stiff upper lip and the standard “I’m fine, thanks” when anyone asks how we are. But this reticence to talk about what’s really going on inside is bad for us and bad for our work.

Mental health is the leading cause of workforce absence among UK SMEs, according to research employee benefits provider Unum – but managers are struggling to discuss it.

Almost half (45%) of small and medium sized enterprises cite mental health as a key reason for employee time off, the research found, contributing to the £29 billion lost to sickness-related productivity drops each year.  

Yet 34% of SME decision-makers say managers hesitate to discuss mental health, rising to 47% in medium-sized businesses.  

This gap in confidence means employees are missing out on the early intervention and support that could make a real difference to their mental wellbeing.

“With so much change happening in the world around us, employers are needing to take the lead on wellbeing,” said Jane Hulme, HR director at Unum UK.  

“But our research shows managers are struggling to find the right words when it comes to tough topics like mental health. This hesitation can mean missed opportunities for early support.”

Training can be a game changer, she says, giving managers the self-assurance to spot the early signs that something’s not right, and start the conversations that matter.

The government’s Keep Britain Working review has placed workforce health and absence management at the centre of the national agenda.  

With sickness absence up 62% compared to pre-pandemic levels, employees now lose an average of 9.4 working days a year to ill health.  

For SMEs, this is a wake-up call and a reminder of the critical role that employers can play in supporting mental wellbeing.  

By combining manager training with accessible digital health services, SMEs can help tackle the UK’s leading cause of absence head-on.

If you need extra support while your staff are off unwell, The Timebank can probably help pick up the paraplanning slack. Speak to us today to find out.

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