More than six in ten UK managers have experienced burnout at work because of the Covid-19 pandemic, with a fifth considering quitting their job as a result, according to new research from not-for-profit healthcare provider, Benenden Health.
The research found that 20 per cent of all managers either considered quitting, or actually quit their job as a result of the strain on their mental wellbeing.
The main causes of burnout at work in the past year were shown to be anxiety about the future, a challenge for 46 per cent, with 40 per cent citing a lack of sleep, 35 per cent citing limited social interaction and 28 per cent blaming increased demands from senior leadership. Managing home schooling with work was a contributing factor for 26 per cent, while 34 per cent of burnout sufferers revealed that working longer hours had contributed.
Despite 55 per cent of managers wanting to take time off work due to burnout brought on by the pressures of the pandemic, only 21 per cent have done so, with 36 per cent revealing they couldn’t due to their workload being too high, 33 per cent saying their team needing them and32 per cent fearing an absence would impact their career progression. A further 16 per cent thought senior management wouldn’t let them take time off.
Office for National Statistics figures have shown that the number of individuals experiencing symptoms of depression has almost doubled since the start of the pandemic.
The survey of UK-based managers also revealed that just 20 per cent of those who have experienced burnout in the past year have sought medical support, while 33 per cent either took time off as annual leave or a physical health sick day to hide the real reason for their absence.
With the coronavirus pandemic placing such a serious strain on the nation’s workforce, UK businesses are now facing a mental wellbeing crisis as individuals suffer in silence, having a knock-on effect on the culture, retention, productivity and overall performance of organisations.
One in seven managers – 15 per cent – have reported lower productivity levels at work since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, while 11 per cent said their work was of a lower quality. Conversely, only 9 per cent said their productivity has risen and 8 per cent believe their work has improved in the past year.
A third of managers reported that work has caused increased anxiety in the past year, while four in ten said it has caused mood swings and a quarter revealed their diet has got worse. The research found 18 per cent have consumed more alcohol and 10 per cent said their relationship with their partner has deteriorated.
The poll found 17 per cent of managers revealed that they are worried about being encouraged to work from an office before they are comfortable doing so, while 16 per cent believe that the easing of restrictions will put more pressure on them at work. With 12 per cent saying that they fear the culture within their business will get worse once restrictions ease, businesses may also need to consider how they maintain a feeling of togetherness as life returns to something more like normality.
The future of traditional office working was also revealed to be in jeopardy as more than two thirds – 69 per cent of managers said they would like to work from home – at least part-time – on a permanent basis.
Naomi Thompson, head of OD at Benenden Health, said: “It goes without saying that the past year has been incredibly challenging for individuals across the nation, both in our personal lives and at work.
“Businesses too have suffered immensely from the Covid-19 pandemic and these pressures have filtered down to management, who have been vital in keeping operations going at work whilst managing their own lives at home.
“What we are seeing is that there is a burnout epidemic across the nation’s managers, but too often these individuals feel too helpless, worried and embarrassed to open up and seek support for their mental wellbeing concerns.
“An open, two-way conversation must now take place to ensure employees are able to disclose and address any mental wellbeing concerns without fear. It is also important that employers are in a position to support appropriately and effectively, to the benefit of both individual employees, and the business as a whole. In building a happy, healthy and productive workforce, employers will also have to consider how their operations change as restrictions ease, ensuring that employee wellbeing is at the forefront of these conversations.”
