FEATURE
ON THE ROAD: WORKPLACE WELLBEING
Social isolation can lead to stress, anxiety and depression. These conditions can often influence driver behaviour, so it is more important than ever that measures are in place to protect a workforce in the post-pandemic world, explains Simon Turner, Campaign Manager at Driving for Better Business.
the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions. A study by The Mental Health Foundation in partnership with Strathclyde, University of Cambridge, Swansea University and Queen’s University Belfast found that one in four adults have felt lonely during the lockdown.
More than two-thirds of adults in the UK (69%) report feeling somewhat or very worried about the effect COVID-19 is having on their life. This figure comes from a UCL COVID-19 social study of 90,000 UK adults which has monitored mental health symptoms throughout lockdown. Researchers have found that stress, anxiety, worry and depression have all increased as a result of the pandemic and government measures to contain it.
People who drive for work are in a unique position. Often working long hours, in solo situations, driven by deadlines, and with the responsibility of a vehicle, it can be a difficult and stressful workplace environment. Businesses with staff who drive for work, whether in company cars or commercial vehicles, have a legal obligation to manage them correctly, and this has only been enhanced by COVID-19.
As lockdown eases and we move into a ‘new normal,’ organisations are encouraged to ensure that they manage work-related road risk effectively and keep people who drive for work safe. COVID-19 is still a risk, and many drivers are more exposed than the general population. As a result, there is the potential for their mental wellbeing to be adversely impacted.
HOW IS DRIVER MENTAL HEALTH AFFECTED? The 2019 State of Remote Work report highlighted
that 19% of remote workers note their biggest struggle is loneliness. This has been exacerbated by
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Commercial vehicle drivers are used to a degree of isolation, as many travel alone, but social distancing has amplified those feelings. There will be a relaxing of these rules, but some levels will need to be maintained and social interaction will be limited to a degree. Many of those who drive company cars, such as sales teams, may still be working from home for some time as firms look to reduce their employees’ potential exposure to the virus, so the human interaction that many of them thrive on will be missing.
A research paper by Dr. Lisa Dorn, Associate Professor of Driver Behaviour at Cranfield University and Research Director for DriverMetrics, shows how social isolation can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression, which is known to influence driver behaviour and lead to distractions and potential crashes. These feelings might have been exacerbated over the last few months, and the isolation and loneliness associated with lone working can compromise mental health.
ANXIETY IN THE WORKPLACE Many organisations will have had to furlough their
drivers, as the restrictions prevented them from operating normally. As lockdown lifts, they will be coming back. After weeks off, this might bring feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. There may also be practical considerations to take into account. Furloughed drivers might have spent a long time without driving at all. They may well have experienced ‘skill fade’ and it will take them a little time to readjust. They will also quite possibly be coming back to a different working environment. Their role may have changed, some valued colleagues may have left, or even have succumbed to the virus, plus life on the road will be
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