New research commissioned by Aramark has found that 49% of working adults in Ireland regularly feel stressed at work with more women experiencing stress than men.
The research sampled 578 people in employment across Ireland in a range of age groups. It found that females, those in younger age groups, those from an ABC1 background and Dublin residents are more likely to feel regularly stressed at work.
The research found that only 51% felt comfortable discussing their mental health or the fact that they are feeling stressed at work with their employer or line manager. Males, those aged 18 - 24 and people working in Munster are least likely to feel comfortable discussing their mental health with their employer/line manager.
While the majority regularly take a break from their working environment for lunch or to get a drink, 1 in 5 (20%) of working adults do not regularly take a break during the working day.
The research was undertaken by Amárach Research as part of Aramark’s annual TAKE15 campaign which aims to promote good mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. During the month of October, people across Aramark’s 464 sites in Ireland and the UK, as well as the wider public, are encouraged to take 15 minutes out of their working day away from phone calls, computers and smart phones to unwind and to talk to colleagues and reconnect.
Commenting on the research, Managing Director for Food Services and Facilities Management at Aramark Ireland, Shane Flynn said, "This research confirms what we have long suspected - people are stressed at work and need to be better supported in how they deal with that stress. We know that stress is having an impact on the individual and on the business in terms of lost productivity."
He added, "We also know that speaking to someone when you don’t feel ok is hugely important, so it’s concerning that 49% of people said they wouldn’t feel comfortable speaking about their mental health to their employer or line manager. We all have a role to play if we are to change this culture and employers need to fully support campaigns on workplace wellbeing."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
