Independent charity Health@Work says 57% of companies and organisations are offering little or no support to their employees who are struggling with their mental health. Tony McDonough reports

More than half of employers across the UK do not meet the basic standards when it comes to supporting their staff with mental health, a Liverpool-based organisation has revealed.

Independent charity Health@Work says 57% of companies and organisations are offering little or no support to their employees dealing with mental health issues.

Its research follows a recent study by the NHS which found that one in three sick notes are for mental health, making it the most common reason for people to take time off work. It is estimated this is costing businesses £10.6bn in sickness absence and £21.2bn in reduced productivity.

Health@Work’s study also found that 33% of employers do nothing to support the wellbeing of their staff, despite 93% considering workplace wellbeing to be an important business need and over half (51%) stating that they would be likely to invest in workplace wellbeing.

In order to combat this issue, Health@Work – which has been providing expertise on health, safety and wellbeing for more than 25 years – has developed the Workplace Wellbeing Charter, to help seamlessly embed workplace wellbeing into every aspect of an organisation.

Matt Liggins, director of wellbeing at Health@Work, said: “We know that business growth relies on sustainable cultures and practices that focus on how well its people perform. Mental health is a huge issue for businesses and our research highlights the need for employers to seek guidance for the care of their employees.

“We created the Workplace Wellbeing Charter to help improve the health of businesses, making them stronger, more productive and more profitable. Over the years, we have delivered training to thousands of delegates, working with all kinds of businesses from sole traders to huge organisations such as Jaguar Land Rover, United Utilities and NHS England.”

To find out more about the Workplace Wellbeing Charter or to start your business’ accreditation process, visit www.wellbeingcharter.org.uk