NEGATIVE IMPACT ON PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLBEING OF IRISH WORKERS UNDER COVID-19 HIGHLIGHTED IN NATIONAL RESEARCH
O H
ello readers and
welcome to the September issue of Irish Manufacturing. In this issue we take a look at
Test & Measurement with new products from Yokogawa and Micro-Epsilon. In our Storage Optimisation feature ProSKU discuss managing stock through the Covid ecommerce boom. All this plus much more. October features include
Springs & Fasteners, Sensors & Sensing Systems, Automation, Hydraulics & Pneumatics, Compressed Air, Applications in Ireland, Food & Beverage. If you are interested in
contributing to our October issue, please feel free to email me on
rtucker@datateam.co.uk. For now stay safe and take care.
Rachel Tucker - Editor
ne in three employees in Ireland are vulnerable workers, with an underlying health condition
such as asthma, diabetes or cardiac issues, according to new research released by laya healthcare. The survey — the first of its kind in Ireland to include both employers and over 1000 employees across all industries and sectors — also found four in 10 Irish workers (39 per cent) are struggling to cope with everyday life during Covid- 19 and 91 per cent have reported some level of anxiety. Over half cited a fear of a second surge their main cause of anxiety. However, just one in 10 are seeking external professional help for their mental wellbeing and almost eight in 10 workers have not taken any sick leave since March. The research further reveals companies predict an
average expense of €37,138 on returning employees to the workplace, such as putting in place new infrastructure, PPE provision and running wellness programmes. 14 per cent of Irish employers are predicting costs of €50,000 or more. Larger organisations are more likely to be providing mental wellbeing services to support staff returning to the workplace. However, just 45 per cent of the pharma, manufacturing and IT sectors are providing such services for those returning to the workplace and just 39 per cent in other sectors. Commenting on the research, Sinead Proos, Head of Health and Wellbeing at laya healthcare said: “These
results highlight the implications we must consider as we try to work and maintain ‘business as usual’ during a pandemic. The majority of Irish workers (91 per cent) reported some level of anxiety, in part due to concern about getting sick from Covid-19, family and friends getting sick and worrying about a second surge. “To address workers’ concerns, protect the one in
three employees who are vulnerable workers and fully comply with health and safety guidelines, long-term investment in building resources, education and training needs to be made. With over 270,000 companies operating in Ireland, the total cost of returning employees to workplaces could well be in the region of €10 billion. The coming months are going to be incredibly challenging. Early intervention and a culture of resilience needs to be prioritised to manage people’s mental and physical wellbeing long-term — both for those working in the office and remotely. Irish employers should ask themselves, ‘is my workforce coping, and if not, do we have the right tools to support them over the coming months and years?’.”
www.layahealthcare.ie/bravenewera
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