Follow us on:

CloseClose

Research: stress and anxiety worst for Gen Y employees

Press release 7 October 2021.

According to research conducted by GRiD, the industry body for group risk, employers believe that their Gen Y employees are affected by stress and anxiety more than any other generation.

In three out of four areas, Gen Y (age 26-44) is affected more than any other demographic:

  • Fifty-eight per cent are affected by stress and anxiety related to home life (such as caring responsibilities, managing difficult relationships etc).
  • Fifty-seven per cent are affected by stress and anxiety related to work (such as pressures of overwork, uncertainty of future, etc).
  • Fifty-seven per cent are affected by stress and anxiety related to finances, debt, etc.

In addition, 49% are affected by stress, anxiety and uncertainty as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic – just pipped by Gen X (age 45-56) at 50%.

Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRiD explains: ‘Employers may typically think that it’s the older generation, Gen X, that has more responsibility and more worry, but our research shows otherwise. Younger age groups can have less stability in their lives and feel the burden of responsibility heavily.’

Home life and work life both cause anxiety for this generation, and these research findings give a clear indication that support is much needed. Employers can only do so much themselves to alleviate the stress and anxiety - such as looking at workload, training and providing the tools to do a job - but providing access to professional help can often be incredibly valuable.

Debt management, budget planning, financial guidance, counselling therapies, mindfulness apps are all widely available within group risk employee benefits and can be a great way for employers to help their staff deal with the practical implications of stress and anxiety.

Moxham continues, ‘Some employers may still think of group risk benefits (employer-sponsored life assurance, income protection and critical illness) purely as financial insurance policies, but in practice they are so much more. We see many employees get the most value from these when they utilise the embedded benefits. These are as wide-ranging as counselling right through to budget planning.

‘When stress and anxiety clearly affect so many, providing access to such benefits is a very tangible support and they make all the difference to a workforce.’

The theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day2 is ‘Mental Health in an Unequal World’, and it’s important that access to support is offered equally to all generations without bias or assumptions.

Moxham concludes: ‘Group risk benefits help employers offer some of the most egalitarian benefits available to their staff, with the embedded benefits available equally to every level of employee.’

  • Ends -
  1. The research was undertaken by Opinium during January 2021 among 505 HR decision makers at UK businesses.
  2. https://wfmh.global/2021-world-mental-health-global-awareness-campaign-world-mental-health-day-theme/

For further information please contact:

Sharon Mason 
SMUK Marketing and PR
smason@smuk.org.uk 
Mob: 07747 611773
Land: 01252 843350

Katharine Moxham
Spokesperson for GRiD
Katharine.moxham@grouprisk.org.uk
Mob: 07887 512508

Notes for editors

About GRiD

Group Risk Development (GRiD) is the industry body for the group risk sector, promoting the value to UK businesses of providing financial protection for their staff, enhancing their wellbeing and improving employee engagement. Our membership includes insurers, reinsurers, intermediaries and those operating in (or with other interests in) the UK group risk market. Together this forms a collective wealth of experience built over many years. Under the chairmanship of Paul White (head of technical, Howden Employee Benefits & Wellbeing) GRiD aims to promote group risk through a collective voice to Government, policymakers, stakeholders and employers.

GRiD works with government departments and regulators involved in legislation and regulation affecting group risk benefits, and with other organisations involved in the benefits and financial protection arenas. GRiD also seeks to enhance the industry's standing by encouraging best practice and by participating in industry-wide initiatives such as the professional qualification in group risk managed jointly with the Chartered Insurance Institute.

GRiD’s media activity aims to generate a wider awareness and understanding of group risk products and their benefits for employers and employees.

GRiD's dedicated spokesperson, Katharine Moxham, provides expert media comment on a full range of group risk issues.

www.grouprisk.org.uk

Follow Katharine Moxham on Twitter @KMoxham

 

Join now

If you are active in the group risk market and would be interested in gaining a greater share of voice and working more closely with your contemporaries in the industry please get in touch by completing this page.

Benefits of membership:

A STAKE IN POLICY

A STAKE IN POLICY

The opportunity to influence group risk policymaking.

VALUE BY ASSOCIATION

VALUE BY ASSOCIATION

GRiD is a respected voice in the protection sector – as such, membership enhances the status of member organisations.

ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE INFORMATION

ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE INFORMATION

Privileged access to output from the various working groups, including consultation responses, regulatory updates, employer research and pan industry claims data. GRiD members also gain exclusive access to industry speakers at member meetings.

Please enter your details:

Member register
  •     Already a member? Please login.