Recent research has found that the youngest employees in the workforce, those aged 18 to 24, who should in theory be the fittest members of the workforce, are the ones that are struggling most with their health and taking more sick days.
Health Shield Friendly Society’s latest research has uncovered that 18 to 24-year-olds took the most time off for mental health issues. This compares to those aged 55-64 who rarely take time off for mental health reasons. This might reasonably suggest either that the younger people are struggling more with their mental health, or simply that they feel more comfortable citing mental health as a reason for absence.
It appears that significant worries over their finances could be contributing to these higher levels of sickness absence. In the survey, 44% of employees in this age group stated that they worry about money every day. This was higher than for any other age group. It reflects the difficulty that young people are facing, dealing with the impact of steeply rising prices at the outset of their careers. Many will lack savings to fall back on and are likely to have significant debts accrued through higher education. According to Deloitte’s Global 2022 Survey, 46% of Gen Zs live pay cheque to pay cheque[1].
The true extent of the pressure this age group is currently under is revealed by the fact that a staggering 9 out 10 said in the survey that the cost-of-living crisis is as worrying or more worrying than the Covid pandemic. After three years of turbulence, this uncertainty is hitting younger people hard and employers should be aware that extra support may be needed to deal with the impact on their mental health.
The latest figures from the HSE for 2021/2 underline how mental health in the workplace has deteriorated. Stress, depression and anxiety are now the leading causes of work-related ill-health[2]. In 2021/2 the rate was higher than pre-Covid levels and 451,000 new cases were reported in the year.
Health Shield’s own data from their EAP supports this. 47% of all calls are related to mental health. This is far higher than for any other issue. Almost 25% of calls are from those aged between 20 and 29. This compares to under 15% of calls from those aged 50 to 59.
Supporting better mental health in the young is both vital and urgent. Millennials, those aged 27 to 42, are the generation that are currently experiencing the highest rate of burnout[3]. Nearly half of this age group say they have left a job because they felt burnt out. If poor mental health in Gen Zs is not addressed, it could mean these rates climb even higher, with more people exiting the workforce in their late 20s and 30s just when they should be looking to build their careers.
Matt Liggins, Head of Wellbeing at Health Shield, commented:
It is the responsibility of employers to step up and support all their employees at this difficult time, but it makes sense to focus on those that need it the most. These young people will become the leaders of the future so it’s vital that they build resilience now, helping them to cope with the stresses of modern life.
Matt Liggins, Head of Wellbeing at Health Shield
Joanne is the editor for Workplace Wellbeing Professional and has a keen interest in promoting the safety and wellbeing of the global workforce. After earning a bachelor's degree in English literature and media studies, she taught English in China and Vietnam for two years. Before joining Work Well Pro, Joanne worked as a marketing coordinator for luxury property, where her responsibilities included blog writing, photography, and video creation.
