Abstract
The purpose of this research was to explore the mental health and wellbeing needs of employees in the automotive sector, to understand the types of initiatives these employees would appreciate and how to promote them effectively. The research was approached with an exploratory, qualitative design. The collection of employee knowledge and opinion was undertaken utilising in-depth and semi structured interviews with a small cross-sectional group of employees. The main findings from the research showed that mental health presenteeism and leaveism are commonly occurring. It was found that individual understanding of well-being differed due to conflicting terminology and that where the company excelled in the areas of health and safety employees experienced unhappiness with working hours, work life balance and pay and reward. Research of this scope was original to the company and the automotive sector thus providing great insight. These employees showed there was less need for complex well-being programmes and that there was a keenness for mental health to be recognised and discussed more to help diminish the attached stigma. This research also questions: who is really best suited to support employee wellbeing? Whilst research highlights the importance of managers in this process, it also confirms, as with this study, that they are the employees with the worst wellbeing and therefore unlikely to be those best suited to provide this support. If managers wellbeing is not boosted it is unlikely that they can bring about desired improvements and bridging this gap requires future consideration.
Highlights
Wellbeing remains a topic at the forefront of research due to the increased awareness of the positive organisational impact that supporting employee wellbeing has on productivity and profitability
Theme 1 - Absenteeism is not a prevalent concern currently, presenteeism is commonly occurring across the company at all levels
When presenteeism was discussed at senior managerial levels it was suggested it occurred “not because of how they will be viewed or money but because of how they are” expanded to clarify “it is about the team work, they are small teams and want to support each other”
Summary
Wellbeing remains a topic at the forefront of research due to the increased awareness of the positive organisational impact that supporting employee wellbeing has on productivity and profitability. This research focussed on wellbeing in one specific company but presented insightful conclusions for the wider sector. For the sector to continue to thrive it is only right that the employees are able to thrive, supporting their mental health and wellbeing warrants close attention. Company X Company X (requesting full anonymity) is a UK SME within the automotive sector. They have 150 employees across a number of sites with an age range from 16 to 70 years, highlighting a large range of potential mental health and wellbeing needs
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