Due to COVID-19, seventy per cent of global executives report experiencing poor mental health.
According to Bupa’s Executive Wellbeing Index, 72 per cent of senior executive and 70 per cent of global executives have experienced poor mental health due to the effects of COVID-19 whilst almost half (40 per cent) admit that they find it difficult to seek help for these problems.
This has led to an array of wellness problems including insomnia (22 per cent), lack of energy (31 per cent) and lowness, anxiety and sadness (23 per cent amongst UK bosses).
However, these mental health issues have not just plagued bosses during COVID-19.
In Modern Health’s report, almost two-thirds (61 per cent) of employees admitted that the pandemic had made their lives more stressful. Over half (57 per cent) of the employees stated that their life had never been more stressful and anxiety-ridden with almost half (46 per cent) stating that they were worried about how they were going to provide for themselves and their family.
Despite this, the pandemic has also had some positive effects on employees and bosses alike. In the same survey, 7 in 10 (70 per cent) employees felt more grateful within the past few weeks with three-quarters (74 per cent) saying they felt more grateful for their health, relationships and life. Conversely to their bosses, over half (51 per cent) stated that they are more willing to seek mental health support than before the global pandemic.
Similarly, over half (52 per cent) of bosses have increased their focus on health and wellbeing whilst 56 per cent of bosses admit that the pandemic has prompted them to reassess their goals and values.
Charles Alberts, head of health and management at Aon, said:
The number one priority for businesses should be to create an environment where employees feel able to be open about any mental health challenges they may face. Without a positive culture around mental health, employers lose a valuable opportunity to proactively support their employees. Some mental health issues may be caused by the workplace itself, such as excessive workloads or bullying. The stakes are even higher if these are not addressed promptly.
Brendan Street, professional head of emotional wellbeing at Nuffield Health, said:
Emotional literacy training – ensuring staff have a common language to discuss mental health – can improve managers’ abilities to support their employees, equipping them with knowledge, self-awareness and empathy, making them better listeners.
*Bupa’s Global Executive Wellbeing Index surveyed 2,000 high-net-worth individuals
(HNWIs) & senior executives around the world in 2020.
**Modern Health, a wellness platform, surveyed more than 700 adults in May 2020 about the impact of Covid-19 on their mental health, relationships, finances and work.
Monica Sharma is an English Literature graduate from the University of Warwick. As Editor for HRreview, her particular interests in HR include issues concerning diversity, employment law and wellbeing in the workplace. Alongside this, she has written for student publications in both England and Canada. Monica has also presented her academic work concerning the relationship between legal systems, sexual harassment and racism at a university conference at the University of Western Ontario, Canada.
