Martin Fairn, CEO at Gazing Red2Blue, which has helped elite sportspeople and top business leaders perform better under pressure, says early intervention is key

A new report, commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions, says the rise in workplace sickness since 2019 is costing the UK £85bn per year, with 800,000 more people out of work.

The report concludes that a primary reason for the rise is a surge in mental health issues, but a leading mindset development company, Gazing Red2Blue, says many of the issues can be better addressed by earlier engagement and support for staff. They suggest that simple, easy-to-learn mindset development techniques can significantly reduce the risk of mental health issues arising from workplace pressures.

Led by ex-John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield, the report goes on to say that the problem could get worse without meaningful sustained intervention, claiming another 600,000 people could leave work by 2030, but that this was “not inevitable”.

Martin Fairn, CEO at Gazing Red2Blue, said; “We have worked with elite sportspeople, C-suite executives, and a range of education trusts and schools, to help people better cope with the everyday pressures of life and work, and we know that mindset development can limit mental health issues developing.”

“It’s a common misconception in business, and in life in general, that mindset is a problem to be fixed, rather than a skill that can be developed. There is so much that can be done that is easy to implement, can be learned and applied, and is proven to work.

“I welcome the report’s conclusion that intervention can help address the problem and would urge the government to consider how that might be introduced and scaled across the UK’s workforce.

“I believe enabling and integrating mindset development as a critical skill could be part of the solution. It starts with recognising that anyone can learn and apply the mindset language, tools and techniques.”

The government has responded to the report by announcing a major partnership with over 60 companies, many of them large employers.

It plans, over the next three years, to change how it approaches workplace health, with the aim of reducing sickness absence.

The report says employers lose on average £120 per day in profit from sickness absences, which are at a 15-year high. It proposes a move away from health at work being left to the individual and the NHS and more towards it being a shared responsibility between employers, employees and the health service.

But it also stresses employees’ personal responsibility, saying that relying on welfare as an alternative to work can set people on a “path towards detachment and dependency, rather than recovery and participation”.

Martin Fairn added; “There is a lack of clarity about the many terms used when discussing mental skills or mindset, and mental health. They are often used interchangeably, when in fact they have different meanings.

“Mental health is best described as a point in time mental state. Good mental health means you can cope with the normal stresses of life; poor mental health means you may struggle with anxiety, depression, or other issues that impact daily lives.

“Mindset is a person’s belief system, or attitude, that shapes how they see themselves and the world. It influences how they react to success or failure, impacting motivation and confidence. Critically, it dictates how they react to life’s events.

“A strong mindset can contribute positively to mental health.”

In addition to mental health issues, the report also cited muscular skeletal issues, aches and joint pain in older people as another primary reason for the rise.

The CIPD, which represents HR professionals, welcomed the government’s vision for a preventative approach to illness in the workplace.

And Dr Roman Raczka, president of the British Psychological Society, welcomed a shift towards “rehumanising the workplace”. He said; “The workplace itself can be a root cause of poor mental health.

“Those signed off with sickness, deserve timely access to safe and compassionate care, with support from psychologically informed mental health professionals.”

Martin Fairn concluded; “Overall, the attention this report brings to the whole issue of workplace-related mental health issues must be a good thing

“We believe there is a lot that can be done before mental health issues become a problem, and mindset development is a proven approach that is also easy to learn and apply.”