UK employers show a lack of interest in the mental wellbeing of employees, even though many staff are suffering from stress, according to a new study of nearly 1,300 workers by ADP®. The research reveals that a third of UK workers (31%) say their employer has little or no interest in their mental health, despite the fact that a fifth (20%) are stressed out on a daily basis, and for almost a third (33%) the issue is so bad that they’re considering looking for a new role.

Mental health issues have risen in prominence in recent years, with high profile figures, such as Prince William and Prince Harry, speaking out to break the taboo around the subject, which affects one in four people every year. Yet despite this shift, the findings indicate that many employers are still brushing the issue under the carpet.

“A certain level of stress is natural, even healthy, in the workplace, but it’s important that it doesn’t get out of hand,” commented Jeff Phipps, Managing Director at ADP UK. “Employees who endure consistently high levels of stress are in danger of suffering from anxiety and even burnout.  This can lead to more serious mental health issues, which will impact not only their performance, but also their career, and personal life for a long period of time. It is therefore in the interest of employers to help staff to manage stress and put a safety net in place, before any issues become more serious.”

Workplace stress peaks amongst younger employees, according to the study, with 22% of workers under 35 saying they experience stress every day, and 42% saying that it is so bad, they’re considering jumping ship. This contrasts with only 19% and 26% respectively of those over 35 who feel this way, suggesting employees become better at managing stress as they get older.