Time to Talk Day 2021 – Mental Health in the Workplace
04 February 2021
66 per cent of employees think that moving forward, more time and resources will be dedicated to mental health in the workplace due to COVID.
This data comes from an anonymous survey of UK employees from 300 companies, commissioned by workforce training course comparison site CoursesOnline, to discover how attitudes towards mental wellbeing have been shaped throughout the pandemic.
With it being Time to Talk Day on 4 February, the cost of not investing in your employees’ mental health is high on the agenda, and perhaps even more so since the working from home revolution began almost a year ago.
“Businesses who do not take an interest in strengthening their mental wellbeing provision also risk missing the opportunity to access a talent pool that would be loyal to a company that prioritises positive mental wellbeing.”
–Bob Andrews
CEO, Benenden Health
Construction Firms Risk Losing Top Talent Due to Poor Mental Health Support
Almost a third of construction firms in the UK have seen an employee move on because their mental wellbeing wasn’t being looked after, with one in five losing a key member of their workforce, according to not-for-profit healthcare provider, Benenden Health.
The survey of UK employers and employees revealed that 32 per cent of construction, engineering and building firms have experience of an employee leaving their company because their mental wellbeing wasn’t cared for, with 21 per cent saying they had lost a really valuable staff member, suggesting businesses could face a staff retention crisis as employees struggle with increasing mental health demands.
Bob Andrews, CEO at Benenden Health, commented: “It is concerning that employers in the construction industry have reported losing good staff due to poor mental wellbeing provision, something that employees clearly consider important, and which could be creating a perfect storm for UK businesses.
“The data does highlight that employers need to listen to their employees about what they need, and promote good mental wellbeing within their organisation, as this can have a real positive effect not only on the health of employees but also on absence rates, productivity, recruitment and retention.
“Businesses who do not take an interest in strengthening their mental wellbeing provision also risk missing the opportunity to access a talent pool that would be loyal to a company that prioritises positive mental wellbeing.”
A Message from a Mental Health First Aider
What Can Firms do to Combat Mental Health Issues in the Workplace?
Ultimately there are many different options through which organisations can look to address mental health issues and everyone will have their own preference. At the Learning People for instance, they have experimented numerous initiatives which others may look to adopt such as:
Creating an employee wellbeing group with a wellbeing rep nominated from each team to be the wellbeing spokesperson
All members of the employee wellbeing group are Mental Health Awareness trained by ‘Mind’ to ensure they know how to spot the signs of poor mental health and provide support where necessary
Participation in Time to Talk Day - providing conversation starter cards and cakes to all employees to raise awareness of the importance of talking to others
Regular calls with HR for all employees who are working from home and more frequent calls with those who require additional mental health support
Discounted gym and fitness schemes due to the link between good physical and mental health
The Mental Health First Aider organisation also provide good information pack resources for those wanting to take responsibiltiy as individuals, employers or workplace managers, which are available to download for free now.
Picture: a graphic from Time to Talk Day, showing an ant carrying a leaf which says "the power of small on it". Text underneath the image says "a small conversation about mental health has the power to make a big difference"
Article written by Bailey Sparkes | Published 04 February 2021
Spotlight Interview – Stephen Peal | PPSPower – Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace
Stephen Peal is the Managing Director of PPSPower and has recently become a qualified Mental Health First Aider through MHFA England. We spoke to him about the...
Mental Health Concerns in Construction and Engineering
Employees in the construction and engineering sector are struggling with poor mental wellbeing, with more than a third taking time off due to poor mental health,...
We take a look at why this awareness day is so important and the role employers play in creating a more gender-balanced society.
Observing the influx of celebratory...
The Chartered Institute of Building Launches 3rd Phase of Mental Health Research
A landmark survey into the mental health issues facing those working in construction and the built environment has launched.
The Chartered Institute of...
Mental Health Workshop Series Available for Security Sector Professionals
A charity that works with armed forces' veterans is now offering a series of trauma awareness training for security employers.
In conjunction with Assist Security...
Succession Actor Brian Cox Lends Voice to Desk Break Mental Health Campaign
Actor Brian Cox has joined the campaign to raise awareness that continuous desk work negatively affects stress levels.
A global report exploring the impact of daily...
East London NHS Trust Wins ‘Estates and Facilities Team of the Year’ Award
The facilities team at the East London NHS Foundation Trust has won a prestigious “Design in Mental Health” Award.
The estates team was shortlisted in a...
East London NHS FM Team Shortlisted for Design in Mental Health Award
The estates and facilities team at the East London NHS Foundation Trust has been shortlisted for an award celebrating exceptional design in mental health settings.
The...
Rinnai Lower Costs And Environmental Impact For Expanding Launderette Group
Rinnai has recently provided a high efficiency water heating solution to a South Wales launderette which needed to replace its old gas boiler as the property wanted to lower operational costs and drive down emissions. Click Image To Read More
How SEE uses the Sustainability Hierarchy to Revolutionise FM
Our expertise in facilities management is enhanced by sustainable specialisms, including solar PV, EV charging, and ESG reporting which revolutionises the management of properties. Click Image To Read More
Rinnai High-Efficiency Hybrid Water Heaters: Lower On-Site Emissions And Meet Peak Demand At West Country Hotel
A West country hotel has just completed the installation of multiple Rinnai blends ready 20% continuous flow water heaters and bespoke Rinnai storage vessels. Click Image To Read More
How a People-Centred, Socially Driven Approach is Transforming UK Commercial Spaces
What makes a space truly impactful? Is it looks, how it functions, or the sense of connection it fosters? Click Image To Read More
The Future Of Cleaning Today
InvisiGard by Orion Eco Solutions is a revolutionary water-based coating that effectively eliminates viruses, bacteria, and airborne pollutants in your workplace. Click Image To Read More
Rinnai Introduces New Innovations In Unvented Water Heaters & Indirect Storage Solutions
Rinnai is introducing a wide and comprehensive selection of unvented water heaters to add to and complement the existing range of cylinders solutions. Click Image To Read More
For nearly 15 years I've witnessed the unique challenges of marketing within the FM and PM sectors, particularly when targeting the retail space. Click Image to Read More
Boxing Night 2025
September 2025
Details Coming Soon.
Energy Transition Update
ThisWeekinFM Guest Editor, Daniel Lynn, has selected a number of news items that exemplify an active international energy transition. Click Image To Read More
FM Qualifications at the College of Central London
Qualifications are essential to gaining recognition and respect. Our mission is to provide skills and knowledge to help you achieve success in IWFM level 5 and 6. Click Image To Read More