News

No support for staff returning to work

By editor ⋅ February 25, 2009 ⋅  Printable version ⋅

Employers are failing to support staff who return to work after an absence, according to a report from the Mental Health Foundation.

The research shows that 75% of workers who have been off work with depression report continued symptoms of mild to moderate depression. 45% of those off with a physical illness (back pain, illness, hospital treatment) reported similar symptoms of depression. Employees interviewed expressed concern about confiding their mental health issues to an employer, and were more worried about telling their line managers about mental health issues than physical illness, despite the acknowledgement that it probably affected their ability to function at work to a greater degree.

The report concludes that there is a “consistent lack of follow-up by occupational health, line managers and human resources on employee’s general health and psychological well being after returning to work.”

The Mental Health Foundation claim that preferences were shown in adjusting work patterns and pressures for those with physical ailments over those with mental health issues, despite the latter’s reporting high job stress and the cause of their illness being work-related. The majority of those who had been absent with mental health issues reported a re-occurrence of sick leave associated with the symptoms of depression.

The Foundation is advocating the use of tailored return to work plans, written in partnership between the employee, employer, GP, HR and insurance, and suggests longer periods of monitoring and support for returning employees and awareness training for colleagues.