An accident can have an enormous impact on just about every area of an individual’s life, including their career. The Make it Right Campaign from the National Accident Helpline surveyed over 1,000 people that had been involved in some sort of accident and it was clear that fears surrounding work and the mental health implications were major concerns.
Career Concerns
The campaign found that as many as 57% of people were worried about losing their job after the accident with 63% stating that they were concerned about returning to work after an accident. Shockingly, 55% of respondents stated that they had lost income after the accident and this is clearly a huge concern.
Mental Health
Being involved in a car accident, slip, trip or fall or any other kind of accident can be traumatic enough and create many issues in the household and with relationships. People should not have to worry about their career, livelihood and finances during these times but a whopping 72% of those that had an accident said that they suffered from mental health as a result. Stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, nightmares and panic attacks were all reported and a large part of this stems from worries about money and their career.
What Employers Can Do
It is clear that businesses need to do more to look after employees that have an accident and take steps to address mental health issues. Reassurances and taking steps to make work easier for those that have had an accident are essential and could help to reduce stress while helping the individual to get back to work sooner rather than later while still being able to perform their role with confidence.
Employers should also create workplace cultures where people can be themselves, easily communicate and make it easy to reach out for those that are suffering from mental health. Phased returns to work can also be a smart way to get the individual back to work without rushing and allowing them to recover and attend medical appointments etc.
Making a Claim
If the accident was not their fault, it is also worth suggesting that they take action with a no win, no fee claim. This can provide financial relief and cover current and future loss of earnings so that money is not such a concern for the individual while they recover and miss time off work. This can alleviate a lot of the mental health issues and allows the individual to focus on their recovery and getting back to work.
Any kind of accident can take its toll and impact many areas of life. Concerns around work and finances are amongst the primary issues reported after an accident and this is why it is important for employers to know how they can help, reassure and provide support for their workers if they are ever involved in any kind of accident.
