Ben, the automotive industry charity, has just released its annual Health and Wellbeing Report, and it shows that it’s been a challenging year for those working in our industry.
The charity surveyed over 1,000 people across the sector and found the top five issues affecting their health and wellbeing. Stress was the biggest, affecting 57% of the participants, followed closely by poor sleep (52%), anxiety (44%), not taking time out to rest or relax (43%), and low mood (41%).
Worryingly, almost everyone who took part had been affected by at least one of these issues in the past year. A growing number of workers, especially those in showrooms, parts departments, and garages, are struggling with poor work-life balance, up 6% to 38%. Long hours, staff shortages, and high workloads are also putting increasing pressure on employees.
Mental health, in particular, seems to be an issue that is not getting the attention it deserves in the automotive industry. Participants said that things have got worse over the past 12 months, with one in nine feeling unsupported in their workplace. The automotive workforce appears to be disproportionately affected by mental health and work-life balance issues compared to the wider UK workforce.
Perhaps most concerning is that nearly a quarter of those surveyed are considering leaving the industry altogether, and half of them said that poor mental health is a driving factor.
Financial concerns also remain a serious issue. With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, many are still struggling. One in six admitted to skipping meals, one in five are facing debt, and one in four of those thinking about leaving the industry are doing so because of money troubles.
Ben’s latest report highlights the urgent need for more support and awareness across the automotive industry, especially when it comes to mental health and financial well-being.
“This year’s survey results shed light on the biggest health and wellbeing challenges facing our automotive family. Our annual surveys offer a valuable opportunity to listen directly to those within our industry, helping us better understand their issues so we can provide the relevant services and support for automotive people and their families. These insights also allow us to engage with employers and industry partners, so we can collectively work towards improving the resilience, wellbeing and motivation of automotive workers and the industry as a whole. Stress remains the biggest issue for our automotive family, with many people citing they don’t feel they have enough time to switch off from work to rest and relax, as well as raising concerns over access to support. Money worries are also clearly continuing to impact on people’s lives, adding to these stresses. Unsurprisingly, the challenges we’re seeing are taking a toll on people’s mental health which is a continuing trend for our industry. Following these results, we want to ensure that everyone who works, or has worked, in the automotive industry knows we’re there for them, so please get in touch if you’re struggling by visiting www.ben.org.uk/gethelp. We also work closely with employers to support employees – you can read more in our full report, or by visiting www.ben.org.uk/business.”
Rachel Clift, Chief Executive Officer at Ben
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