Insight

Our research this year shows positive improvements to well-being across the industry. More insights professionals feel comfortable discussing well-being with their managers. Similarly, more report their companies have introduced policies to support employee well-being.

However, more work needs to be done. Stress levels remain high. Half of industry professionals continue to grapple with consistent pressure and heavy workloads, with little to no time for recovery. Some insights professionals still feel unsupported and unsure how to discuss their mental health at work.

We designed our Mental Well-being in Insights Report to help research teams understand employee mental health over time and take steps to address key barriers to well-being in the industry. We have, for the third year running, partnered with the Insights Association to survey 409 insights professionals – spanning agency, in-house teams, suppliers, and freelancers.

The report includes guidance on:

• Strategies to support healthier workloads
• Training managers to identify and respond to mental health and well-being needs
• What leaders can do to model well-being
• Collecting feedback on wellness programs and initiatives
• Tips for running successful employee pulse surveys

Read the full report here

Among many notable data points from the report…

Stress and exhaustion exacerbated by heavy workloads and tight deadlines

Heavy workloads are, once again, a key source of stress for insights professionals. Half (51%) reported their workload and having too much to do caused them stress at work this year, matching last year (52%).

In 2022, as in 2021, half of professionals say they experience tight deadlines, pressure, and heavy workloads often or all the time (56%, 51%, 51%, respectively). More than 1 in 3 professionals (36%) say they deal with long working hours often or all the time.

Despite benefits, majority do not take time off when feeling exhausted or burnt out

More than half (56%) of insights professionals said the reason they didn’t take time off for the exhaustion/burnout they experienced this year was because they had too much to do.

Insights professionals are still unlikely to take time off when they feel exhausted or burnt out. 7 in 10 (72%) who experienced exhaustion/burnout this year didn’t take any time off, compared to 69% in 2021.

Many still feel uncomfortable or guilty for taking time off for mental health reasons

Stigma and other factors still cause many to avoid sharing mental health issues with their employers: 3 in 5 (61%) insights professionals who took time off for mental health reasons this year told their employer they were taking time off for their physical health or a different reason other than the truth.

Guilt remains an issue for those experiencing poor mental health. Among insights professionals who took time off for any mental health issue, 2 in 5 (39%) said they felt guilty for taking the time off – unchanged from 2021. A further 1 in 3 (32%) who took time off for their mental health felt pressure to come back to work too early.

Click the image below to read the full report.