Mental health: its importance in productivity, attracting and retaining talent

AR Resourcing Group Ltd; York; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job description

Mental health: its importance in productivity, attracting and retaining talent

March 2020

Written by Adam Richardson ([e-mail]), Managing Director and Owner of AR Resourcing. Adam has 20 years’ experience recruiting preconstruction, procurement, and commercial professionals across the built environment industries.

Academic studies show that the recent surge in news articles and programming about mental health is not due to an epidemic but rather a growing recognition and destigmatisation of mental health issues. This has led to more people seeking help and increased media coverage.

While mental health is receiving more attention, the associated costs are significant. Mental health problems at work cost the UK economy £34.9bn in 2018, equating to £1,300 per employee (source: Centre for Mental Health). In comparison, the estimated cost of cybercrime is £27bn (source: Detica report, Cabinet Office), and workplace absenteeism related to mental health issues was approximately £18bn in 2017 (source: Centre of Economic and Business Research).

MENTAL HEALTH AND CANDIDATES

Approximately 1 in 5 candidates will proactively raise issues related to their mental health during recruitment. These candidates value an employer’s attitude towards mental health and often seek environments that support their wellbeing. Many of these candidates are among the top performers we place.

Furthermore, a significant number of other candidates are interested in prospective employers’ approach to mental health but may feel unable to ask directly.

IMPACT OF MENTAL HEALTH ON EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY

Research indicates that addressing wellbeing at work can improve productivity by up to 12% (source: The Mental Health Foundation). Additionally, it reduces staff turnover; 46% of employees would consider changing jobs if their employer does not support mental health (source: CV Library, 2018).

With 1 in 4 people in the UK experiencing a mental health problem annually (source: Mind), almost every workplace is affected. Employers can choose to ignore this or accept that the cost may already be around £1,300 per employee per year, which could potentially be reduced through supportive policies and open or confidential conversations about mental health.

A proactive approach not only reduces costs but also attracts better candidates. This may be because such policies reflect a progressive employer or because candidates value mental health support—likely, both reasons play a part.

Some employers leverage their mental health and wellbeing policies as part of their talent attraction strategies. For example, publishing relevant policies and support options on their websites or in job descriptions helps differentiate them in a competitive market.

About the author:

Adam has over 20 years’ experience recruiting procurement and commercial professionals in construction.

When shaping your career, you can follow either a planned or an organic approach. Each has its merits, depending on individual circumstances.

The shortage of procurement and commercial candidates in construction has driven up salaries since COVID-19. Our salary surveys from the past three years reflect this trend.

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