When it comes to the workplace mental health issues remain a taboo – with many workers admitting that they lie to their boss if they take sick leave as a result of work stress.



Mental Health Charity Mind has carried out a survey and found that stress forces 19 per cent of workers to call in sick – yet an overwhelming majority (93 per cent) say they lie about the reason they’re away from the office. Despite feeling unable to reveal the true reason for being away from the office, 70 per cent of workers would like to feel that they can discuss their stress levels with their boss, and a third say they’d like their boss to make the first move in approaching them about the stresses and strains inherent in the workplace. Over half of employees (62 per cent) say that their bosses don’t do enough to maintain the wellbeing of staff, despite it being crucial to a healthy workforce.



Mind has revealed the top five excuses used by staff who take time off for stress reasons:



Stomach upset – 36 per cent


A cold – 13 per cent


A headache – 12 per cent


A medical appointment – 6 per cent


Bad back – 5 per cent