Covid-19 and Employee Wellbeing

Employers have a duty to ensure employees’ safety, health and welfare at work, as far as reasonably practicable.

To reduce the spread of Covid-19, employers must take certain actions. These include providing and maintain a safe workplace where all measure necessary to prevent the spread of Covid-19 have been implemented, prevent any risk of exposure between employees, prevent any improper conduct or behaviour likely to put the safety, health and welfare of employees at risk, provide instruction and training to employees on Covid-19 health and safety precautions, and provide protective clothing and equipment to employees, that may be pertinent to prevent the spread of Covid-19. 

New research released by Laya healthcare shows that one in three employees in Ireland are classed as vulnerable to covid-19 impacts, with an underlying health condition such as asthma, diabetes or cardiac issues.

 Key Report Findings:

• One in three employees in Ireland are vulnerable workers with an underlying condition

• Four in 10 Irish workers (39%) are struggling to cope with everyday life under Covid-19

• 91% of Irish workers have reported some level of anxiety during Covid-19

• One in 10 are seeking help with their mental wellbeing

• Estimated cost of returning employees to work is €37,138

• Almost eight out of 10 (78%) have not taken any sick leave since March

Commenting on the research, Sinead Proos, Head of Health and Wellbeing at Laya healthcare said: “These results highlight the implications we must consider as we try to work and maintain ‘business as usual’ during a pandemic. The majority of Irish workers (91%) reported some level of anxiety, in part due to concern about getting sick from Covid-19, family and friends getting sick and worrying about a second surge.

“To address workers’ concerns, protect the one in three employees who are vulnerable workers and fully comply with health and safety guidelines, long-term investment in building resources, education and training needs to be made. With over 270,000 companies operating in Ireland, the total cost of returning employees to workplaces could well be in the region of €10 billion. The coming months are going to be incredibly challenging. Early intervention and a culture of resilience needs to be prioritised to manage people’s mental and physical wellbeing long-term — both for those working in the office and remotely. Irish employers should ask themselves, ‘is my workforce coping, and if not, do we have the right tools to support them over the coming months and years?’.”

When an employer becomes aware that an employee has an underlying health condition, such as asthma, diabetes or cardiac issues, which may put them at greater risk than most people, if infected with Covid-19, that employer has a responsibility to ensure extra precautions are taken to ensure the safety of the employee concerned.