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Three in 10 employees around the world say their workplace is not psychologically safe and healthy, according to a new poll of more than 14,000 workers.
Whether it is due to stress, interpersonal conflict, frustration, lack of feedback or promotion, 27 per cent of workers in 24 countries said they are not happy with the psychological aspects of their work environment, the survey by research company Ipsos found.
"Employers need to pay attention to their employees' mental health, not just their physical health," said Alexandra Evershed, senior vice-president, Ipsos Public Affairs. "Three in 10 is still a fairly large proportion and that goes up to 44 per cent and 43 per cent in Argentina and Mexico and 42 per cent in Hungary."
But nearly half – 47 per cent – agreed that their workplace has a healthy environment.
Although many North Americans have fewer holidays than Europeans and may work longer hours and enjoy fewer social services, Canadians and Americans had the highest marks for positively assessing the mental health of their workplace, followed by workers in India, Australia, Great Britain and South Africa.
Ms. Evershed suggested that the improving economies in some countries could have played a part in the positive assessment among employees.
"It's better than it was," she said in an interview. "India, China, Brazil, South Africa – these are countries where the economic picture has been brightening."
Workers over the age of 50 with a good household income who have completed a higher level of education were the most satisfied with the psychological aspects of their workplace.
"This is an online survey therefore in countries like Brazil, South Africa and China we are surveying people who are a bit better off."
Ipsos polled workers in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Britain, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United States.
Reuters