57% of People Worry About Losing Their Job After an Injury

Serious injuries can interfere with many aspects of life and take a long time to recover from. One area which is sometimes overlooked is the impact that an injury can have on an individual’s career. They may need to take some time off and might struggle when they return to fulfil their duties like they could before the accident. They may even worry about losing their job after an injury.

Work Concerns

National Accident Helpline, a company that has a focus on compensation and medical negligence claims recently looked into this. They discovered some interesting results which are important to consider. The research revealed that as many as 57% of people worried about losing their job after an injury.  Out of those who returned to work after an accident, 60% stated that they had been unable to do certain tasks. While  63% worried about their performance.

Mental Health Issues

Of course, there are also the mental health repercussions of an injury and the impact that it might have on your ability to work. A significant 7 out of 10 people who had been in an accident said that they suffered from a mental health issue as a direct result, including stress (35%), anxiety (34%) and depression (18%). A further 62% stated that the mental health issue took longer to recover from than expected.

Getting Help

GP Dr Hilary Jones shared insights on the overlooked aspect of mental health in accidents. He pointed out a prevalent misconception:

“Many dismiss mental trauma if it’s not a visible injury, like a fracture. Yet, this outdated attitude is entirely wrong”.

Jones further highlighted that mental health issues might persist. Nonetheless, appropriate support can foster mental resilience:

“Proper assistance enables everyone to achieve mental strength and wellness”.

How Employers Can Help

Mental health issues, often prevalent, require proactive support. Employers must facilitate the return to work. This can include reduced hours initially, appropriate workplace adjustments, and elimination of non-essential tasks.

Effective communication is vital during recovery. Employers should stay in touch, inquire about easing workloads, and offer emotional support. This approach helps alleviate stress and provides reassurance.

Accident-induced physical injuries are hard enough. Employees shouldn’t also struggle with their mental health and job security. Unfortunately, this dual challenge is common. However, employers can ease the transition back to work post-accident. Such measures can significantly mitigate mental health struggles as well.