AXA PPP healthcare has revealed that seven out of ten of senior managers working in the IT sector don't accept depression as a reason for employees to take time off work.
Additionally, almost 80 per cent said they do not accept anxiety as a serious enough problem for absence from the workplace. 69 per cent felt stress was not in line with other health issues that could cause employees to take time off work, despite one in four of those interviewed admitting they had experience a mental health problem at some point in their professional career.
Dr Mark Winwood, director of psychological services at AXA PPP healthcare said: "Senior management is well placed to lead the way to changing harmful prejudice by giving their employees the necessary tools and support to enable them to discuss mental health in an open and unbiased way.
"Lack of understanding breeds fear so improving employees' awareness and understanding of mental illness is one of the most important things that senior management teams can do and a critical first step is to challenge the stigma surrounding mental ill health."
However, if employees were to come into work suffering with these problems, 19 per cent said they would be concerned the employee couldn't satisfactorily do their job. 18 per cent were worried it would reflect badly on them as managers.
Winwood said employers can start making a difference by taking small actions, including promoting an open culture when it comes to discussing problems and mental health at work. That includes managers sharing their own experiences to foster a more positive environment.
"Training and supporting managers to deal with employees affected by mental ill health (including letting them know what employee assistance programmes are available) will also help to give them the confidence to provide effective support where and when it is needed," he said.
