Depression-related
illnesses cost European workplaces an estimated GBP 77 billion a year, or $127
billion (Financial, March 17, 2014, http://www.finchannel.com). These
costs are mainly from absenteeism and lost productivity, according to a report
by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and King’s
College, London, published in PLOS ONE, March 2014.
The
report states that although 30 million people in Europe, and 350 million people
worldwide, are affected by depression at some stage of their working life, most
workplaces ‘seriously underestimate its impact.’
In
a survey of 500 employers in the United Kingdom, over 50% believed that
depressed and stressed workers could still do their job effectively. This is
contrary to a study of 7,000 people in 7 European countries – UK, France, Italy,
Spain, Denmark, Turkey, and Germany.
LSE
and King’s College researchers studied the survey of seven European countries
and found 20% of employed people reported having a previous diagnosis of
depression, and that 20-55% of employees diagnosed with depression in Europe
take time off work due to illness. University-educated professionals were less
likely to time off work when stressed, and if they do, they do not specify the
reasons.
Managers
in Denmark were more sympathetic to stressed employees than managers from the
other surveyed European countries. They were also less likely to discriminate
against them. Managers
in France and Spain were most likely to recommend that stressed employees seek
assistance from healthcare professionals.
The
World Health Organisation (WHO) stated that depression had become the leading cause
of disability worldwide. There is still a stigma associated with depression and
many employers were not dealing with stress in the workplace and the
consequences of it on their staff. WHO
said some solutions for workplaces could be: (1) flexible working hours, (2)
awareness-raising in the workplace, (3) de-stressors in the workplace, such as
recreational activities, and (4) direct offers of assistance.
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