People with mental health issues worried about returning to office post-lockdown

New data shows people living with mental health problems are more likely to be concerned about returning to the office once coronavirus restrictions ease.  

The survey of over 2,000 workers showed that more than four in 10 (43 per cent) people with mental health problems said they are worried about returning to their normal working arrangements after lockdown, compared with less than one in three of the wider workforce, according to the Mental Health and Income Commission.

The commission was established by the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute and consists of experts from areas of business, politics, trade unions and mental health.

George*, a statistician for the NHS, tells The Independent that the anxiety he lives with is making the prospect of returning to the office much harder.  

"We’ve not done the normal work routine for quite some time now, so the commute into work, going to get lunch, even just being in a queue or any kind of crowd, - no matter how well-spaced they are - is something I’m anxious about just thinking of it.  

“The worry I have is that some people think going back to “normal” will be like a flick of a switch, when it needs to be much more gradual for both clinical reasons and for mental health reasons.”  

George explains that, unlike his experiences before the pandemic, a lot of people in one space - including in an office - make him “anxious immediately” and suggests a more gradual introduction back to the office so that people who struggle with their mental health aren’t immediately overwhelmed.  

And charity guidance are in agreement with this suggestion, with Anxiety UK telling The Independent that “Those with anxiety disorders may well find the return to work after lockdown more challenging than others. We strongly recommend employers implement a supported, phased return to the office where appropriate and which is agreed in a collaborative way between employee and employer.”

However, for this supportive solution to be found there will need to change, as the Mental Health and Income Commission survey found two-thirds (68%) of people with mental health problems who had ever asked an employer for reasonable adjustments said their requests were either rejected (20%) or only partly met (48%).

Nearly a fifth (19%) of people with mental health problems said they had suffered workplace discrimination as a result, including being passed over for promotion or being made redundant.

George is worried that this is going to intensify after the pandemic, with those who are anxious to return to the office “passed up” for workers who are happy to go into an in-person environment.  

The commission said requiring employers to offer flexible working practices during the pandemic would help more people with poor mental health to continue to work, and would increase income security.

Employers should also be required to report on the "mental health pay gap" and on flexible working requests, it said.

The report further argued that the Government should make it mandatory for companies with more than 250 staff to report on the pay gap between employees with mental health problems and others, and the number of flexible working requests denied and granted.

Helen Undy, chief executive of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, said: "If the Government is serious about 'building back better', it must address the employment barriers that are leaving many people with mental health problems dreading a return to normal after the pandemic.

"The way the country has adapted to home working and other flexible arrangements has proved that we can do it. For millions of people with poor mental health, the idea of going back to business-as-usual - and losing this flexibility - is a huge worry."

Francesca, a Kent-based writer, is one of the people that doesn’t want to go back to business as usual. She tells The Independent that working from home has “transformed” her mental health, which has been significantly impacted by living with anorexia and depression. 

Speaking candidly about her management of her eating disorder and related lack of energy through meal planning, she said "commuting burns a lot of energy and calories, that I can’t afford to expend. Now I roll out of bed and to my desk. Easy. There are no worries about meetings being put in over lunch, or missing a snack because someone is talking to me. When it’s time to eat, I can eat. My meal plan fits into my work routine. 

“Some days I don’t do so well, and am low on energy. I can take a nap, or read a book, and come back to the work when I’m ready.”

She says she is “absolutely” does not want a return to office life as normal. 

Emma Mamo, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind, spoke to The Independent about the findings within this report, and also of the treatment of people with mental health conditions as we go back to a life of work in-person. 

"A lack of support and understanding means too often staff [with mental health conditions] are not able to reach their potential and progress. A legal obligation on employers to monitor and report on the ‘mental health pay gap’ could help lead to actions which reduce this. We’re keen to see this employment gap close, but even more so that people are supported to find the right kind of work if and when they are ready.

“Although it’s a legal duty for employers to put in place reasonable adjustments for disabled staff (which can include people with mental health problems) under the Equality Act 2010, they should see it as an important part of being a responsible employer. Adjustments could include a change of workspace or working hours, especially for staff who might struggle to travel into work at peak times – which may be more exacerbated due to health concerns of the pandemic.

“It’s not just about the role of employers, the UK Government has a key role to play when it comes to sick pay and benefits. Sometimes our mental and physical health can prevent us from earning enough to support ourselves. The benefits system should be a safety net for those of us out of work, but we know it’s not fit for purpose, and can have a detrimental impact on our mental health. That’s why the UK Government must prioritise improving the benefits system - including retaining or bringing back some of the emergency measures put in place during the first lockdown, and make sure that statutory sick pay is fair, so that people can afford to live and rebuild their lives, as we start to recover from this devastating pandemic.”

*Not his real name