Stress has caused over 2.1 million construction workers to take sick leave

More than 2.1 million construction workers in the UK have taken sick leave as they felt the need to take a break and rejuvenate.

Additionally, more than half (53%) have left jobs because they were too stressful.

As part of NESCAFÉ’s ‘Make Chat Work’ campaign, the findings come at a time when mental health concerns have been raised in the construction industry – with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Men and Boys recommending that more strict mental health provisions be included in construction contracts.

While stress levels are high, nearly three-quarters (74%) of construction workers say they talk to colleagues about work problems. Ninety-six percent of respondents said that talking to colleagues helps relieve the daily pressures at work and ninety-nine percent said that coffee breaks boost team morale.

It is not just mental health that is affected by workplace wellbeing, but also financial wellbeing. UK employers are significantly impacted by poor mental health; research from Deloitte revealed that employers’ costs will rise to £56bn by 2020-21, up from £45bn in 2019.

Nestlé Professional’s Brand Manager at NESCAFÉ, Nadia Roberts, said: “Workplace wellbeing is fundamental to a business’s success. Looking after your staff, and putting measures in place that weave employee wellbeing into the fabric of your business, will result in not only a far happier workforce but also a more thriving business.

“For small businesses, with fewer team members, staff sickness and absence are a lot more noticeable and can have a significant impact on the workflow, results and operational ability.

“It’s promising to see that the vast majority of construction workers find talking to their colleagues helpful in relieving work pressures and the positive impact this has on team morale. Encouraging their teams to take breaks throughout the day, have a breather and connect and talk with their colleagues – whether that’s through a dedicated breakout area, specified break times or just a kettle, mugs and tin of coffee somewhere dry – is an easy and low-cost way for employers to help promote better workplace wellbeing.”

Bill Hill, CEO at the Lighthouse Club charity, which provides financial and emotional support to the construction community and their families, said: “Poor mental health doesn’t discriminate; it can affect anyone whether you’re a business owner, manager or starting out in your career. People may face different stresses within the workplace, but the outcome is the same – it can take its toll and result in serious mental health issues. Stress, anxiety and depression account for a fifth of all work-related illnesses and every single working day in the UK, two construction workers take their own life.

“Our message is clear – there is help out there. No one is alone in this. We welcome campaigns like Make Chat Work that ignite conversation around workplace wellbeing. It’s so important for people in this industry to know they can talk and discuss their wellbeing with others.”

With the Make Chat Work campaign, NESCAFÉ is partnering with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which represents 160,000 small businesses in the UK, as well as the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and the Construction Industry Council (CIC) to provide insights, webinars, information, and assets to help small businesses improve workplace wellness.

Just recently, Temple QMS we’re delighted to welcome Lynn Smith from Stellar Mind who joins Jaz Tanwar from Temple QMS for the 2nd episode of the Temple Talks podcast where we discussed this issue.

This is a fantastic opportunity to find out more about the amazing work Lynn and her team do with some great advice for business owners and a very special offer for training! (Have a listen to the podcast).

Listen to the podcast:

 

In the workplace, healthy and well-motivated employees have a positive impact on the productivity and effectiveness of a business. Good mental health at work and good management go hand in hand.

Stellar Mind helps you to nurture a happy, healthy and productive culture, be it in the workplace, education, at home, where mental health and physical health are given the same priority, creating an environment where everyone can flourish.

To view our Mental Health training courses, go to:

To view the Mental Health training courses, go to the links below:

Online Mental Health First Aider Course
Adult MHFA 2 Day Classroom Mental Health Course
Adult MHFA 1 Day Classroom Mental Health Course
Adult Mental Health Aware Half Day
Online 4 hour Mental Health refresher course