The rising toll of mental health absences in UK workplaces

Shocking new figures have revealed that 16.4 million workdays were lost in the 2023-2024 period due to work-related mental illness. These figures were reported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and serve as a reminder that issues of stress, anxiety and depression are central to business culture, people and productivity.

Workload stress and conflicts play a significant role in these absences, and they can be easily avoided when close attention is paid to culture and project flow. There is some concern that our connectivity may contribute to workplace stress. With more employees working remotely and in hybrid environments, there is an increasingly blurred distinction between our work and home lives. The UK does not have ‘Right to Disconnect’ laws in place to assist with this, unlike many other countries. Despite the current working generation having far more awareness around mental health issues, cost of living pressure and fear of stunted career progression cause absence anxiety in many workers.

For businesses, the cost of poor mental health extends to the bottom line. Losing productive time, the risk of increased turnover, and juggling admin around short- and long-term absences add up. Businesses that invest in measures to support themselves and their team, through Employee Assistance Programmes and flexible leave policies, among other options, can see a significant shift in their team’s wellbeing. Additionally, mental health training for managers can be beneficial, providing leadership with the skills to identify team members who are struggling and support them through recovery.

Stress leave is often taken at the late stages of a prolonged period of ill mental health. By using proactive strategies, such as regular informal check-ins, a system for reassessing workloads, and an open and approachable culture, burnout can be prevented long before it becomes a possibility.

Good mental health is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. The lesson that can be learned from the volume of mental health-related absence is that it is a business-critical priority. The way we do business is constantly evolving, and so should the way we protect one another in the workplace.