Lime Global has released a new research today which states that ‘pleasanteeism’ – the pressure to put on a brave face – is on the rise across UK’s travel and transport sector.
The company said in an official statement, 76% of workers surveyed admit to feeling like they have to put on a brave face in front of their colleagues regardless of how they’re really feeling.
Pleasanteeism is up by 25 percentage points from May 2021 – when (51%) of travel & transport workers admitted to suffering from this phenomenon.
With more workers masking how they really feel than ever before, pleasanteeism is having a significant impact on the productivity of travel & transport businesses, the company said.
Findings from the research revealed that:
- 43% of employees have taken time off work due to feeling like they have to put on a brave face.
- On average, workers in the industry take 2.55 days off per year as a result of this brave face culture.
- 29% of those in the industry feel like they have had to put on a brave face admitting that they have been unable to concentrate at work or had an unproductive day.
- 49% revealed that their expectations of their employer to support their mental health are higher now than they were before the pandemic – they expect this support to be offered to every member of staff.
- 65% said that they believe benefits should be offered to the whole of a company’s workforce, not just the select few
- 41% said that it’s unfair that healthcare and wellbeing benefits aren’t currently offered to the whole workforce in their company.
Across the entire UK workforce, pleasanteeism could therefore be accounted for as many as 67 million days lost each year due to this phenomenon alone.
Not only is this driving up absence rates, but workers also revealed that having to put on a brave face at work impacts their ability to do their job effectively.
Shaun Williams, CEO & Founder, Lime Global Ltd, commented: “After two years of stress and anxiety caused by the pandemic, concerns over health and wellbeing are understandably on the rise among travel & transport workers.
“It’s therefore vital that companies act to offer each one of their employees as much support as possible. Not only is it the right thing to do, but amid a backdrop of economic uncertainty, low productivity and staff shortages, it will be crucial to help drive down absenteeism and protect businesses’ bottom lines.
“Providing access to inclusive healthcare benefits – that are designed to make a tangible impact – combined with a company culture that supports an open dialogue around the challenges that people are facing, are key steps to producing a happier, healthier and more productive workforce.”
Click here to read the full report.
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