Stress biggest issue for automotive workers

David Ross, Editor
Thu, 13 Apr 2023

Stress is the biggest issue facing automotive workers in the UK, according to the latest health and wellbeing survey by industry charity, Ben.

The survey of more than 1000 workers from all regions, ages, genders, and working environments revealed that 66% of respondents cited stress as the biggest challenge affecting their health and wellbeing, followed by poor sleep and low mood, both at 62%.

The proportion of people suffering from stress in the workplace increased by 8% year on year, with high workloads, pressure to meet targets, and not enough staff driving the rise.

The survey also revealed that there has been an increase in people affected by poor work-life balance and not taking enough time to rest and relax.

Poor sleep has increased from 49% to 62%, which is perhaps unsurprising given the increase in stress levels of those surveyed.

Around 92% of people reported that their cost-of-living had increased compared with a year ago and those struggling to make ends meet has increased by 10% (18% to 28%). In addition, 1 in 10 people said they have skipped meals in response to the rising cost of bills.

The top three issues most likely to impact workers in the automotive industry over the next 12 months were the cost-of-living crisis (52%), supply chain shortages (33%), and staff shortages (31%). These issues are likely to contribute to the stress levels of those working in the industry.

The survey is in its sixth year and aims to uncover the key health and wellbeing issues affecting the automotive industry workforce. Rachel Clift, Health & Wellbeing Director at Ben, said, "In addition to stress being the biggest issue, it’s clear to see that automotive workers are also under more pressure and aren’t taking enough time to rest and relax outside of work."

"There are also some worrying trends relating to the cost-of-living crisis, such as skipping meals. In light of these results, we want everyone who works, or has worked, in the automotive industry to know that we’re there for them, so please get in touch if you’re struggling."

The survey was carried out to enable Ben to continue providing relevant support to the automotive industry workforce. The charity is available to provide support and advice for workers and employers concerned about stress and related issues in the workplace.

For those feeling stressed and looking for advice, visit www.ben.org.uk/stress. 

Ask HJ

If I take my SORN car for an MoT, do I need to tax it if it passes?

My car is on SORN. If I take it for an MoT and it passes, do I need to tax it immediately or can I leave it on SORN and tax it later in the year?

If you car still has SORN status then it does not need to be taxed, as it is not being driven or kept on the public road. Its MoT status is effectively independent of the tax status, so if you take it for an MoT and it passes you don't have to tax immediately. It's also important to point out that if you are driving your SORN car to the MoT station you will need to arrange insurance and it is only legal to do so for a pre-booked appointment.

Answered by David Ross

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