‘Blue Monday’ is often seen as the most depressing day of the year, highlighting issues like bad weather and post-holiday debt.
- Adrian Lewis sees this day as an opportunity to increase awareness of mental health challenges at the workplace.
- The UK economy suffers enormous productivity losses due to workplace absenteeism, reaching up to £26bn by 2030.
- On average, mental health-related illnesses require employees to take significant leave, often more than ten days.
- Monitoring and understanding absenteeism is essential for creating effective support systems for employees.
‘Blue Monday,’ falling on January 20, 2020, has garnered attention for being associated with negative feelings such as gloomy weather and financial worries. While some organizations, like the mental health charity Mind, dismiss this notion, others believe it could serve as a catalyst for addressing mental health issues at work. Adrian Lewis, an absentee management expert, suggests that it could prompt employers to actively engage in reducing absence levels by offering better support for mental health, eventually improving productivity.
The economic impact of absenteeism is stark, with a report from the Centre of Economic and Business Research suggesting the UK economy loses around £18bn annually due to this issue, potentially increasing to £26bn by 2030. Mental health concerns are significant contributors to these high levels of absenteeism.
The data indicates that mental health-related issues lead employees to take, on average, eight days off, with a considerable portion requiring more than ten days away from work. This highlights the necessity for proactive measures to address mental health in the workplace, not only for the well-being of employees but for economic sustainability as well.
A 2017 report from Business in the Community reveals that three in five employees experienced mental health problems in the previous year, with nearly a third formally diagnosed. Depression and general anxiety were amongst the most common issues noted. Employers, therefore, face a pressing need to tackle the core causes of absenteeism.
Adrian Lewis emphasizes the importance of identifying long-term patterns rather than focusing solely on specific days like ‘Blue Monday.’ Employers are encouraged to keep a transparent record of absence levels, as this can uncover trends and signal potential underlying issues, including mental health difficulties.
Lewis also advocates for implementing systematic policies before employee challenges spiral out of control. Investing in management software can be an invaluable tool, helping businesses to effectively oversee and diminish absenteeism rates.
Addressing mental health proactively can significantly enhance workplace productivity and employee well-being.
