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Mental health issues at work are common. How to spot and aid colleagues who are struggling

Experts explain what leads to depression at work, red flags from lateness to illness, and how employers can maintain morale and productivity

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Studies have found unhappiness at work to be common, which means paying attention to colleagues’ mental health is important. Photo: Shutterstock

Most of us spend more than one third of our lives at work. It makes sense, then, that if work is not going well for us we are going to feel the effects, particularly on our mental health.

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American management consulting company Gallup’s 2022 State of the Global Workplace report found that people were not just bored or dissatisfied at work; many were downright unhappy.

Sixty per cent reported being emotionally detached and 19 per cent were “miserable”. Only a third of people felt engaged in their jobs.

This year’s Gallup report notes that, around the world, employees are still experiencing a great deal of negative emotions daily in the workplace: 41 per cent report feeling stress, 38 per cent worry, 22 per cent sadness and 21 per cent anger.

A 2022 study by American management consulting company Gallup found that one fifth of people were miserable at work. Photo: Shutterstock
A 2022 study by American management consulting company Gallup found that one fifth of people were miserable at work. Photo: Shutterstock

The report’s Life Evaluation Index measures how people rate their current and expected future lives. While 34 per cent say they are thriving, 58 per cent say they are struggling and 8 per cent say they are suffering.

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A 2022 report from human resources consulting firm Randstadt Hong Kong found that 45 per cent of employees in Hong Kong would rather be jobless than unhappy at work.
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