Survey Documents Impact of Recession on Employee Health and Integrity
The most recent “American Workplace Insights” survey from Adecco Group North America gives great insight into the state of mind of America’s workforce.
- The stresses and strains of the current economic situation have caused many Americans to consider unethical conduct on the job.
- In addition, a staggering number of Americans report that the recession has caused a negative impact on their mental health.
This Friday’s jobs report numbers will draw our attention to the unemployed, but what are the effects of a steady stream of bad news on those of us with jobs?
Dow-Jones graph plunging ever downward
Mental Health Impact
The recession has caused many Americans to develop unseen illnesses.
1 in 5 employed people report that the recession has had a negative impact on their mental health.
- This can have a huge negative impact on morale and productivity at work.
- Coworkers’ emotional suffering is “contagious.”
- Employees working while mentally “absent” are often unproductive and may pose a safety threat.
- People often “self-medicate” in response to stress and depression, so increased drug and alcohol abuse among your workforce is a significant possibility.
So this is no time to cut back on your Employee Assistance Program (EAP)!
Employee Integrity Also Suffers
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
The Adecco survey found that 28% of people would do something dishonest to keep their jobs (examples included blaming co-workers for mistakes, blackmail, and flirting with a superior).
- Leading by far is the Generation Y demographic, of which 41% would do something dishonest.
- Leading all groups, 44% of men between 18-35 would do something dishonest.
Hope Springs Eternal — At Least for Now
Many Americans still have hope.
- 73% believe the stimulus package will be at least somewhat successful, while only 27% do not.
- Far more believe than voted for Obama!
Some Inconsistencies Point to Possible Further Trouble for Short-Sighted Businesses and Individuals
- Almost half of American workers (47%) expect their compensation to stay the same or decrease this year.
- Yet only 15% said the current economic situation has impacted them personally by causing them to actively save for possible unemployment.
- Despite increasing lay-offs, a staggering 82% say their employer is not paying more attention to their performance.
Hope springs eternal.
The current economic climate has not been witnessed by the majority of todays employees.
I agree that employees and some employers health is at risk. In Ireland we have had few people take their own lives because their companies have failed. Some have felt that they personally have failed their employees.
There is a long road to go yet and I fear many more employers/employees mental health will suffer.