Stress and anxiety is the biggest issue for most people with health and wellbeing concerns, according to research from risk industry body Grid.
The research shows of the four in five employees (79%) who currently have health and wellbeing concerns, stress and anxiety is the biggest issue for almost two thirds (62%) of them.
Of those who do experience stress and anxiety, 21% said it was a consequence of the pandemic and 12% said it was related to work.
A further 10% said it was related to the pandemic’s effect on their finances and 10% said it was related to home life such as caring responsibilities or managing difficult relationships, with 8% adding it was due to finances more generally.
Stress and anxiety issues were not the only main worry indicated by employees.
A general lack of fitness for example due to non-active lifestyle or sedentary working was the main concern for 14%, and a further 10% of employees also reported that sleeping problems were their top concern.
Commenting on the findings, Grid spokeswoman Katharine Moxham (pictured) said: “Stress and anxiety can seriously hinder our ability to function in everyday situations let alone in a demanding and often pressurised work environment.
“When employees work from home, it’s easy for them to switch on a laptop to ‘stay on top of their inbox’ or ‘get ahead for the next day’ but, because there are only so many hours in the day, the time for family, home life and chores, relaxation activities or sleep are reduced as a result.
“This can cause stress and anxiety in other areas of their lives. Similarly, being ill previously meant resting at home but employees now have the ability to log on from their sick bed, despite whether that is good for their health or not.”
