Generation Z and young millennial employees miss the equivalent of one day of work every week due to mental health problems, research shows

Robert Novoski

Generation Z and young millennial workers in the UK lost the equivalent of a day’s worth of work every week due to mental health problems, new research shows.

Analysis by Vitality, a health and life insurance company with more than 30 million members worldwide, found that the average UK worker feels unable to work for almost 50 days a year—costing the UK economy £138 billion ($176 billion). billion).

For those under 30, the number of lost productive days rose to 60, while Gen %.

Based on Vitality’s findings, the root of the problem is clear: young and disadvantaged workers face mental health challenges without adequate employer support.

While physical health problems cause a 54% reduction in productivity, mental health problems are even worse, causing a 150% loss of productivity on productive days, especially for young people.

Rates of depression are twice as high among young workers, accompanied by increased levels of exhaustion and exhaustion compared to older workers.

Adding to the tensions is that those earning under £30,000 ($38,000) a year feel 86% more neglected at work than higher-earning colleagues.

This may explain the statistics that workers in 2023 will average only six sick days, with the majority of lost work hours due to ineffective work.

Basically, for 54 days of the year, Gen Z works but doesn’t achieve any results due to mental blocks and unwillingness to seek help from superiors.

Only a quarter of employees actually use company health tools

Even when companies offer mental health support to their workers, uptake is still very low.

Only 25% of the 4,000 people surveyed said they used health tools offered by their company.

However, 85% of those who used it found it useful—suggesting that employers are having difficulty getting the word out about available help, or that most workers are afraid to accept support from their employers.

Vitality CEO Neville Koopowitz stressed that companies need to be better at voicing their support resources.

“If workplace health is managed well, businesses and the economy at large will reap significant benefits,” said Koopowitz.

Burnout is fueling a spike in mental health days at work

The Vitality research comes as the charity Mental Health UK warns that the UK is on the verge of becoming a “burnout nation.”

The Burnout 2024 report found that nine in 10 adults had experienced high or extreme levels of pressure and stress at some point in the past year and one in five had taken time off work as a result.

What’s more, the report states that young staff are statistically more likely to suffer and take time off.

“The UK is fast becoming a nation of burnout, and many people are taking time off work due to poor mental health due to stress,” said Brian Dow, chief executive of Mental Health England.

“High rates of work absenteeism due to poor mental health are a major challenge, but the causes are complex.”

Ultimately, the report calls on British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to resolve the issue and help businesses overcome the impact of persistent absences.

Dow even floated the idea of ​​a “national summit” with government officials and experts to provide advice “how we can create healthy workplaces and provide the best support for people to stay in work or return to work if they are struggling with stress and poor mental health .”

Are you a young worker who is struggling to be productive at work due to mental health problems? We want to hear your story. Contact: orianna.royle@fortune.com.

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