Employee motivation: Workers avoid mentioning stress for fear they may lose their jobs, says study

Date: 16/05/2011

Workers who feel stressed or depressed worry they will be sacked or forced out of their jobs, resulting in low employee motivation, according to new research.

The study, from mental health charity Mind, shows that one in five people believe that if they highlighted their stress levels in the workplace, they would be first choice when it comes to redundancies.

And, the research showed, these workers are not worrying without cause, because 22 per cent said that they had been fired or forced to quit after they revealed a mental health problem at a previous job.

It also highlighted that over 40 per cent are stressed in their jobs, making work more stressful than money, health or relationships.

And almost half of people are too worried to take time off sick because of potential repercussions.

Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, called negativity around stress "unacceptable".

"Pressure and stress may be part of our working lives, but failing to recognise that everyone has a limit is a mistake that costs businesses billions of pounds a year.

"Mental health problems exist in every workforce, but at the moment it exists as a costly and unaddressed elephant in the room."

Another study by Lumesse revealed last week that UK workers have the second lowest morale in a worldwide poll of employee motivation.

Posted by Jo Morgan 

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