A recent survey has highlighted a growing mental health challenge in the workplace, showing that younger employees, particularly Generation Z, are taking significantly more time off for mental health reasons than their older counterparts.
The research, conducted by Chrysalis, found that 40% of Gen Z workers had taken at least one sick day for mental health in the past year. By comparison, 23% of all employees and just 7% of those over 55 reported doing the same.
The survey also revealed that 52% of workers felt their mental health had negatively affected their job performance, while 36% said they had considered leaving their role due to a lack of support.
Although almost half of employees expressed interest in accessing online therapy, many are unable to do so because of cost, long waiting lists, or the absence of such support through their workplace.
Younger workers are particularly aware of the impact of poor mental health on productivity, with far more of them recognizing its influence compared to older employees.
Mental health-related absences now cost UK employers approximately £56 billion annually—a dramatic increase of over 150% since 2019. Stress, depression, and anxiety account for more than half of all work-related sick days, with 17.1 million days lost in 2022/23 due to work-related mental health conditions.
These findings underscore the urgent need for employers to provide better mental health support and access to care, particularly for younger workers who are increasingly vulnerable to workplace stress.
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