Nearly half of managers in medium-sized businesses lack the confidence to talk to employees about mental health, despite it being one of the biggest drivers of sickness absence in SMEs, according to new research from Unum.
The insurer found that mental health problems contribute to around £29bn lost each year through sickness-related productivity declines. Overall, 47 per cent of decision makers in medium-sized firms, and 34 per cent of managers in smaller businesses, said they hesitate to discuss mental health at work.
Unum said this confidence gap means many employees are missing out on early intervention and support, which could improve wellbeing and help reduce both absenteeism and presenteeism.
The firm argued that SMEs need to invest more in line manager training to address the issue. Jane Hulme, HR director at Unum UK, said: “Training can be a game changer, giving managers the self-assurance to spot the early signs that something’s not right, and start the conversations that matter.”
Unum’s research also shows that access to appropriate help and support can help alleviate mental health issues. Last year, the insurer facilitated more than 42,000 mental health appointments through its support services, including its Help@hand app.
Among employees who used the app, 71 per cent reported improved mental wellbeing, while 91 per cent said they felt better after applying strategies discussed during their sessions. Meanwhile, 71 per cent said Help@hand helped them overcome challenges or personal setbacks.
Hulme added: “The Keep Britain Working review has placed workforce health and absence management at the centre of the national agenda.
“With sickness absence up 62 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels, employees now lose an average of 9.4 working days a year to ill health. For SMEs, this is a wake-up call and a reminder of the critical role that employers can play in supporting mental wellbeing. By combining manager training with accessible digital health services, SMEs can help tackle the UK’s leading cause of absence head-on.”
