Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Business

Young workers twice as likely to take mental health leave as new UK research reveals scale of crisis

by December 16, 2024
December 16, 2024
Young workers twice as likely to take mental health leave as new UK research reveals scale of crisis

A surge in mental health-related absences among Britain’s youngest workers has underscored the urgent need for employers to rethink their approach to employee wellbeing.

Fresh research from Unmind, a leading workplace mental health solutions provider, reveals that 30% of British Generation Z workers—equating to roughly 1.7 million young people—have been signed off work this year for mental health reasons.

This new data arrives as the Government urges young people to enter the workforce earlier, highlighting a stark disconnect between policy ambitions and the realities facing many of the nation’s newest recruits. The Office for National Statistics reports that the economic inactivity rate among those aged 16-24 has ticked up from 39% in 2019 to 41.2% in 2024. Against this backdrop, employers face mounting pressure to safeguard workers’ mental health to prevent productivity losses and ongoing absences.

It’s not just younger staff who are feeling the strain. Overall, 16% of the UK’s working population—some 5.3 million people—have taken time off for mental health this year. Four out of five of these individuals believe their workplace played a role in their deteriorating wellbeing. Many cited insufficient support upon returning, with nearly one in five feeling penalised for their absence and another fifth saying their requests for reasonable adjustments were ignored.

This gap between needs and provisions is reflected in employees’ reluctance to open up. Almost one in five workers would feel uncomfortable asking for mental health-related leave, a figure that rises to 26% among women and 27% among over-55s. Where support exists, such as Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), awareness is low. Only 41% of respondents knew that their company had an EAP available. Among those who did, however, Generation Z was the most proactive in accessing help, with nearly two-thirds taking advantage of the support on offer.

Beyond EAPs, employees want more flexible, innovative approaches to mental health support. Over a third say flexible working arrangements are their top priority, echoing separate research indicating that greater flexibility can significantly improve overall wellbeing and even boost productivity by up to 4%. Emerging technologies are also part of the solution, as nearly half of workers under 35 say they would trust AI-driven mental health advice.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Nick Taylor, chief executive and co-founder of Unmind, said: “The research clearly highlights the need for employers to step up and help their staff thrive—especially younger employees, who are disproportionately affected by mental health absences. Organisations must move beyond traditional approaches and embrace flexibility, innovation, and open dialogue to foster positive workplace cultures.

“It’s time for employers to adopt a holistic approach that nurtures mental health. We at Unmind are committed to driving this transformation, working towards a future where wellbeing is universally understood, supported, and celebrated.”

Read more:
Young workers twice as likely to take mental health leave as new UK research reveals scale of crisis

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Reeves’s business inheritance tax shake-up ‘will cost exchequer £1bn more than it raises’ warn economists
next post
TalkTalk to axe hundreds of jobs as broadband provider targets £120m cost cuts

You may also like

Labour is considering tax cuts to become ‘party...

January 3, 2024

The Evolution of Roulette: From Casinos to Your...

September 26, 2024

Selling Your Business: A Quick Checklist

November 15, 2022

Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group buys significant stakes in...

June 20, 2023

Iconic British Land Rover brand to be dropped...

April 19, 2023

Hunt rules out tax cuts before next general...

September 11, 2023

Barclays profits jump 19% as Trump-fuelled market volatility...

April 30, 2025

The Profound Benefits of Legal Webinars & Events

December 29, 2023

Supply Chain Visibility Explained: Tools, Benefits, and Best...

January 27, 2025

 101 new businesses were created every hour across...

September 14, 2023

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Trump warns of ‘serious consequences’ if Elon Musk funds Democrats

      June 7, 2025
    • Musk jokes about reconsidering stance on Big Beautiful Bill after Schiff’s praise

      June 7, 2025
    • Musk deletes explosive posts about Trump and Epstein files

      June 7, 2025
    • House witness flips script on Dem who ambushed him during hearing with unearthed tweet: ‘Iceberg is ahead’

      June 7, 2025
    • Call with China’s Xi, and Trump-Musk exchange fueled barbs during 20th week in office

      June 7, 2025
    • Trump’s conservative allies warn Congress faces critical ‘test’ with $9.4B spending cut proposal

      June 7, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,152)
    • Investing (2,019)
    • Politics (15,568)
    • Stocks (3,136)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved