The Hidden Costs of Covid: Some Startling Stats

by | Sep 30, 2021 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

I recently hosted a panel discussion for FirstCare and we shared a few stats that show just why tracking wellbeing and investing in programmes to develop optimal physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual wellbeing is becoming a mission-critical imperative for modern digital-hybrid workplaces…

  • In 2020, mental health troubles accounted for more lost working time than confirmed cases of Covid.
  • Men saw a 10% increase in working time lost due to poor mental health. For women, the rise was 19%.
  • Sectors across the board were affected by rising mental health problems. Of all the employees affected:
    • 24% worked for the NHS
    • 20% worked for Councils
    • 12% worked in Construction, Engineering & Manufacturing
    • 8% worked in Transport & Logistics
  • The sector that was hardest hit was Consumer & Retail, which saw 83% more employees affected, and a 120% rise in working time lost.
  • Of workers who have needed time off related to Covid, 1 in 12 subsequently need time off for poor mental health. In over 70% of those cases, it leads to multiple mental health-related absences – sometimes up to 30 spells.
  • Time off for poor mental health lasts three times longer than for Covid-related reasons. Mental health absences following Covid-related absences are 63% longer again – that’s more than a month on average.
  • 54% of UK workers will leave their job after twice taking time off due to mental health troubles.
  • Each time lockdown has eased, there’s been a spike in employee mental health issues. For example, from May to July last year, when lockdown 1 ended, there was a 47% jump in working time lost to poor mental health. In the Transport & Logistics sector, the increase was 57%.

For more information check out: The Wellbeing & Performance Experts | FirstCare