Stress is long-term worry
New research from Group Risk Development (GRiD), the trade body for the group risk industry, has highlighted the need for employers to make effective early interventions when managing stress and mental ill health cases as these will otherwise escalate into much longer absences.
The research found that almost half of UK employers questioned (45%) considered stress and mental ill health a major cause of long-term absence amongst their employees with 25% saying it is a major cause of absence in the short term too.
Mental illness is also often a contributory factor for an absence or develops as an absence continues. Now that 40% of employers are recording the secondary cause of absence as well as the primary stated reason for long-term sick leave it is easier to measure the impact mental health plays from the outset.
According to GRiD, there is a growing need for early intervention strategies to help support people in managing these conditions and help them get back into the workplace. Group Income Protection offers up additional support services such as Employee Assistance Programmes, HR and legal advice and fast track access to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
