News: Performance Management
Employers must be sympathetic to depressed workers
23 April 2008
Bosses need to be sympathetic to employees who suffer from depression, after new research found that 71 per cent of workers revealed that they are afraid of telling their human resources (HR) department about their condition.
A poll of 288 people by the Depression Alliance (DA) revealed that only one in four people disclosed their illness to HR for the fear of it having a negative affect on their careers.
The survey also discovered that half of staff felt they had been denied opportunities for promotion, while 48 per cent had been ignored by other members of staff.
Emer O'Neill, chief executive of DA, believes bosses should be more compassionate towards depressed employees.
"Having a job is very important to people with depression so employers and colleagues need to have a much greater understanding of the challenges faced by people with depression, in order to provide the support they need to contribute fully," she said.
Around 51 per cent of respondents also believed that they been discouraged from taking part in exciting projects, while 47 per cent said they received unpleasant comments from other members of staff.
The DA is a charity which provides support to sufferers of depression in the UK.
