Workers under 40 are twice as likely to lack "trusted personal relationships" as their colleagues over 50 — according to the latest TELUS Mental Health Index.
The TELUS Mental Health Index report reports a modest improvement in the overall mental health scores of workers in New Zealand, improving nearly one point from September 2023.
The report found those who do not have someone they can be their true selves with are more than three and half times as likely to report feeling isolated (62%) than those who have someone they can be their true selves around (17%).
TELUS Health's general manager Julie Cressey told 1News that a trusted workplace relationship was cultivated in a supportive and inclusive workplace environment, meaning workers were given the space to speak freely without fear of judgement or reprisal.
"The lack of trusting workplace relationships is having a significant negative impact on workers' mental wellbeing," said Cressey.
This could lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness that could cause negative physical and mental health impacts, she said.
"Positive workplace relationships are an essential buffer for stress, highlighting the need for employers to nurture a culture that promotes connection and social support."
She said their research showed coworker relationships "significantly impact employee wellbeing and productivity".
"Employers and managers have an obligation to encourage trusting, positive relationships between employees. This could be through internal initiatives, team building, promoting open communication and encouraging employees to support each other."
Isolation and loneliness
She said combatting the negative impacts of isolation and loneliness on employee health and productivity not only improved well being but also had significant financial benefits for employers in the form of heightened productivity.
The study revealed that workers not feeling valued or respected by their colleagues and those reporting unsupportive workplaces were twice as likely to report that their mental health adversely affected their productivity at work.
Further, 41% of workers in New Zealand did not believe that harassment, bullying, unhealthy conflict, and other harmful behaviours were quickly and fairly resolved in their workplace.
"Organisations would do well to focus on managing psychological risk and supporting a healthy culture in addition to offering and communicating supports such as Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) and Wellbeing Programmes for individuals and teams," said TELUS health global leader Paula Allen.
Regional breakdown
The regions with the lowest mental health scores recorded were Manawatū-Whanganui and Taranaki, Wellington, Otago and Southland.
Waikato, Auckland and Bay of Plenty proved to have the highest mental health scores.
The data for the TELUS Health Mental Health Index was collected through an online survey from January 13, 2024 to January 26, 2024 with 1000 respondents who live in New Zealand and are currently employed or who were employed within the prior six months.
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