19 workplace mental health statistics for 2024
Before you start building your employee mental health strategy it’s great to get an understanding of the workplace mental health landscape – and that starts with the stats and facts.
Read MoreHave you ever had one of those days when you just need a break for your sanity? Everything feels a little too much and you just need some time to clear your schedule and clear your mind? That’s essentially what a mental health day is all about.
In this article, we’ll explore the concept of mental health days, shed light on their purpose and why they’re being implemented by more and more organisations to make an impact on overall wellbeing.
A mental health day at work is a day when an employee takes time off from their job to focus on their emotional wellbeing. On a mental health day, you step away from workplace pressure and responsibilities, with the aim to simply rest and recharge.
It’s a chance to prioritise self-care, spend time with loved ones, and address any mental or emotional challenges employees might be facing. Whether they’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, or simply need a breather – a mental health day can be a valuable tool for maintaining your overall wellbeing and is something more and more organisations are seeing the benefits of.
The main difference between a mental health day and a sick day is that a sick day is taken due to physical illness or injury, while a mental health day is taken to address emotional and psychological wellbeing, typically to reduce stress or prevent burnout.
While a sick day is reactive to physical health issues, a mental health day is proactive, focusing on emotional health, self-care, and preventing mental health-related concerns. Both are essential for overall wellbeing, but they address different aspects of health.
Mental health days aren’t just a nice-to-have perk; they’re a proven and powerful way to maintain a healthy workplace. The importance of mental health days at work can be seen with several benefits.
No. In the UK, mental health days as a specific legal requirement do not exist. However, the law does offer certain protections and requirements related to mental health in the workplace.
For example, the Equality Act 2010 requires employers to make reasonable adjustments for employees with mental health conditions to ensure they are not disadvantaged at work. Additionally, employees have the legal right to take sick leave if they are unwell, including due to mental health reasons.
While there’s no direct legal mandate for mental health days, UK employment law emphasises creating a supportive work environment and addressing mental health concerns within the broader framework of employee rights and wellbeing and employers should have policies in place that support those needs.
The Employee Mental Health Expectation Gap
25 x Employee Mental Health Survey Questions
There are a number of ways you could track the efforts of your mental health initiatives at work. By using Stribe’s smart pulse survey software, it’ll make things a whole lot easier. We’ve broken it down into steps and tips for you…
Want to create a workplace that prioritises employee health and happiness? Speak to the friendly Stribe team to learn how we can help.
Before you start building your employee mental health strategy it’s great to get an understanding of the workplace mental health landscape – and that starts with the stats and facts.
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Read MoreOutsourced HR teams bring a whole range of expertise – including recruitment, performance management and employee wellbeing strategies.
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