Ben, the automotive industry charity, recently released its eighth annual Health & Wellbeing Report based on a survey of over 1,000 automotive workers. The report highlights significant and worsening health & wellbeing challenges within the sector.
The report is quite detailed, and its key findings include:
Prevalent Issues: The top five health and wellbeing issues identified are stress (57%), poor sleep (52%), anxiety (44%), not taking time out (43%), and low mood (41%). Nearly all respondents were personally affected by at least one health and wellbeing issue in the past year.
Work-Life Balance and Workload: The incidence of poor work-life balance has increased by 6% to 38%, particularly affecting those in showrooms, parts departments, and garages. Long hours, low staffing, and high workloads are growing concerns.
Declining Mental Health: Mental health scores have deteriorated over the past year, with automotive workers more likely to experience mental health and work-life balance issues compared to other UK workers. One in nine people felt a lack of support for mental health in the workplace. Mental health issues remain the most prominent of the top 10 concerns.
Industry Retention Risk: Almost one in four automotive workers are considering leaving the industry, with half of those citing poor mental health as a primary reason.
Financial Strain: Money worries persist due to cost-of-living pressures. One in six reported skipping meals, one in five experienced debt issues, and a quarter of those considering leaving the industry also reported financial problems.
The survey’s insights enable Ben to provide relevant health and wellbeing services and support to individuals in the automotive industry and their families. Ben actively engages with employers and industry partners to collectively improve the resilience, wellbeing, and motivation of the workforce and encourages anyone struggling to seek help via www.ben.org.uk/gethelp. Support for employers can be found on their website at www.ben.org.uk/business.
Additionally, in partnership with The Motor Ombudsman, Ben has recently produced a new guide called Steer, which you can download and read for free here. The aim is to help both employees and employers cultivate a positive and open environment that promotes mental health awareness. It’s packed full of helpful information and is worth a quick browse over a cuppa.