LOCKDOWN restrictions have taken a substantial toll on Scotland’s professionals since they were introduced in March, a new survey has suggested.
The poll, published today, was carried out by recruitment experts Hays between April 23 and May 4, as the company urged employers to consider the effect that working remotely during lockdown is having on its staff.
In its survey of 1150 professionals and employers in Scotland, the company said two-thirds (66%) rated their performance at work as positive before the restrictions were put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic.
However, only slightly more than a third (34%) said their wellbeing had remained positive since lockdown. And the percentage of those who rated their wellbeing as negative increased from 6% to 23%.
The main reasons respondents cited for the decline in their wellbeing were the lack of social interaction (23%), followed by isolation, loneliness (13%) and boredom (11%).
Juggling the demands of childcare was seen as a concern for 11% of those polled, while 9% blamed an increase in their workload as a contributing factor.
“The importance of mental health and wellbeing in the workplace has really been highlighted in recent months and this may be a good time for employers to review their policies, especially for the longer term,” said Akash Marwaha, Hays managing director in Scotland.
“Over three-quarters of professionals who responded to the survey believe that their employer has a responsibility to look after their wellbeing, but this doesn’t seem to be happening during the lockdown.
“Because the virus is having such a major impact on working lives, in so many different ways, the wellbeing of staff needs to be a top priority.”
Marwaha said people knew that restrictions were likely to remain in place for some time to come, with only very slow changes.
“Embedding good mental health working practices now would be a worthwhile way of ensuring that they continue after lockdown,” he said.
The company said managers could take a number of steps to help its staff, including scheduling regular video updates with its teams, as well as being flexible with schedules and expectations.
It could also offer staff counselling and wellbeing training.
Marwaha said he accepted that many employers are currently focused on the survival of their businesses and mental health may come low on their list of priorities.
However, he suggested that some resources could be diverted during these unprecedented times to review processes in the workplace and to consult workers on their opinions and ideas about better, and different, ways of working going forward.
He added: “The old ways of office life and working are unlikely to return for a long time, if at all.
“We need to start changing our workplace mindset, both physically and mentally.”
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