There is an equal fear amongst UK employees of losing their job and being able to find a new one right now during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was discovered by CV-Library, who found that 47 per cent of workers are both worried about being let go from their job and being able to find a new one.
The top ten fears among employees right now are:
- Worried about losing my job – 47 per cent
- Worried about not being able to find a new job – 47 per cent
- Worried about money after being placed on furlough – 16 per cent
- Worried about the company I work for folding – 16 per cent
- Worried about having my pay cut – 14 per cent
- Worried about money because my pay has been cut – 13 per cent
- Worried about having too much work to do – 13 per cent
- Worried about not getting a pay rise – 12 per cent
- Worried about being placed on furlough – 11 per cent
- Worried about my performance/productivity at work – 6 per cent
Unsurprisingly, considering the above worries of the UK workforce, a third (33 per cent) have struggled with their mental health over the past three months during the lockdown.
However, more than half (54 per cent) have stated that their employers are doing enough to support their mental wellbeing.
The level of worry of finding another job for those who were already unemployed before lockdown jumps to 58 per cent. As well as nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of the same group saying they are worried about their finances and 5 per cent fearing for their health.
Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of CV-Library, said:
We know that the last three months have been a struggle for many people. Trying to work from home while looking after a family, being placed on furlough, facing uncertainty around their job; it’s not been easy for professionals and it’s going to take a long time for life to go back to normal. So, it’s important to make sure that you continue to support employees and encourage them to look after their mental health and wellbeing.
We know that a lot of professionals worry about speaking to their boss when they’re struggling. Therefore, it’s important to encourage staff members to talk and remind them that it’s ok to admit if they’re not feeling themselves, or to ask for time off work if they need it. As Brits, we naturally tend to ‘keep calm and carry on’ but taking the time to switch off from work is important – especially when the lines between personal and professional life are often blurred if employees are working remotely.
When it comes to mental health, everyone has different triggers. From our findings, we can clearly see that there’s a general concern around job security. It’s important to be as open and honest with employees and candidates during this time. Be sensitive and remember that these are people you’re dealing with, not just numbers.
CV-Library spoke to 2,000 UK employees to gather these findings.
Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.
