Four in 10 retail professionals have struggled with their mental health in recent months, but majority feel supported by their employer

This article is brought to you by Retail Technology Review: Four in 10 retail professionals have struggled with their mental health in recent months, but majority feel supported by their employer.

According to brand new research from CV-Library, the UK-based independent job board, nearly four in 10 (38.6%) retail professionals admit that they have struggled with their mental health over the past three months; and job security appears to be the biggest concern for working professionals.

The job board surveyed 2,000 UK workers to uncover how professionals have been coping during lockdown. The study reveals that these are the most common concerns workers in the retail industry have had about work in recent months:  

1. I have worried about losing my job – 43.8%
2. I have worried about not being able to find a new job – 40.6%
3. I have worried about money after being placed on furlough – 25%
4. I have worried about having my pay cut – 21.9%
5. I have worried about the company I work for folding – 18.8%
6. I have worried about my performance at work – 15.6%
7. I have worried about money because my pay has been cut – 12.5%
8. I have worried about not getting a pay rise or promotion – 9.4%
9. I have worried about my productivity at work – 9.4%
10. I have worried about being placed on furlough – 6.3% 

Fortunately, it appears that workers feel supported by the company they work for during this challenging time, with 56.3% of professionals in the industry stating that they feel their employer is doing enough to support employees’ mental wellbeing. 

Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of CV-Library, comments: “We know that the last three months have been a struggle for many people. Trying to work from home while looking after a family, being placed on furlough, facing uncertainty around their job; it’s not been easy for professionals and it's going to take a long time for life to go back to normal. So, it’s important to make sure that you continue to support employees and encourage them to look after their mental health and wellbeing. 

“We know that a lot of professionals worry about speaking to their boss when they’re struggling. Therefore, it’s important to encourage staff members to talk and remind them that it’s ok to admit if they’re not feeling themselves, or to ask for time off work if they need it. As Brits, we naturally tend to ‘keep calm and carry on’ but taking the time to switch off from work is important – especially when the lines between personal and professional life are often blurred if employees are working remotely.” 

The study found that 66.7% of retail professionals who are currently unemployed have struggled with their mental health in recent months. In fact, 58.3% have worried about not being able to find a new job, 16.7% have worried about finances and 16.7% have worried about their health.  

Biggins continues: “When it comes to mental health, everyone has different triggers. From our findings, we can clearly see that there’s a general concern around job security. It’s important to be as open and honest with employees and candidates during this time. Be sensitive and remember that these are people you’re dealing with, not just numbers.”