Media releasePublished on 16 May 2022

UK small business owners struggling with pandemic mental health hangover

Xero and CEBR study highlights Covid’s emotional impact on entrepreneurs

London – 16 May, 2022 – Two out of five (40%) small business owners believe that their emotional recovery from the pandemic will take much longer than that of the financial disruption. And, according to a new study by Xero, the global small business platform, those investing in wellbeing initiatives were more likely to hold on to staff and grow revenues.

Nine out of 10 (92%) small business owners experienced symptoms of poor mental health over the last two years, according to the study with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) and Opinium. Professional responsibilities played a significant part, with more than half (52%) said that running their business has contributed to those symptoms.

The pandemic was the greatest cause of poor mental health, for over a third (37%) of respondents, but issues such as cash flow (24%) and the cost of living (24%) also had an emotional impact.

SME owners not prioritising wellbeing

The increasing pressure of the pandemic made it difficult for small business owners to prioritise their own wellbeing. Three out of four (75%) didn’t take a single sick day or didn’t feel they had the option to, with those that did taking an average of just one day each. Of those who suffered poor mental health, only one in five (21%) took any leave.

Despite limited time for wellbeing, only half of business owners (55%) know where to turn for mental health support. And while the government provided financial assistance, only 15 percent believe they were doing enough to help them with their mental health and wellbeing.

Jessica Rose, Founder of Jewellers Academy, said: “The last two years have been incredibly difficult, both commercially and emotionally. The pandemic forced me to shift my business fully online and as someone who has experienced work-related burnout in the past, I was very conscious of the stress associated with such a challenging transition. Whether personally or for my employees, putting the right habits in place and establishing a wellbeing-led culture has definitely protected my mental health and helped my business thrive in challenging circumstances.”

Unlocking the potential of mental resilience

The stressful trading environment facing small business owners has also made it difficult for them to prioritise the mental health of their employees.

The study found that just half (53%) of respondents implemented mental health initiatives for their staff during the pandemic. The average total investment in mental health initiatives by small firms during the last two years was just £939, with one in five (21%) spending less than £100.

However, those investing more in wellbeing initiatives enjoyed better economic outcomes. More than half (53%) saw increased productivity following the introduction of mental health support.

On average, investment in employee wellbeing exceeding £1,000 was linked with revenue growth of 50.3 percent over the last two years, as well as a 47.3 percent growth in employee numbers.

Keeping a business afloat in a period of financial distress can come at the expense of their wellbeing. It’s crucial that owners prioritise the mental health of themselves and their workforce.

Alex von Schirmeister, UK Managing Director

Alex von Schirmeister, UK Managing Director at Xero, said: “With so much focus on fixing the post-pandemic economy, the longer, hidden tail for business owners might well be the mental health toll. Keeping a business afloat in a period of financial distress can come at the expense of their wellbeing. It’s crucial that owners prioritise the mental health of themselves and their workforce. Getting the right support will lead to a healthier business that’s more resilient to the economic challenge ahead.”

You can find more about Xero’s support around mental health, including the Mind Your Business toolkit for small business owners, available here.

-ENDS-

Media Contact

Robyn Greenacre | Xero Communications | 07976005232 | Robyn.Greenacre@xero.com

About Xero

Xero is a cloud-based accounting software platform for small businesses with over 3 million subscribers globally. Through Xero, small business owners and their advisors have access to real-time financial data any time, anywhere and on any device. Xero offers an ecosystem of over 1,000 third-party apps and 300 plus connections to banks and other financial partners. For three consecutive years (2020-2022), Xero has been included in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index. In 2021, Xero was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), powered by the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment and in 2020, Xero was recognised by IDC MarketScape as a leader in its worldwide SaaS and cloud-enabled small business finance and accounting applications vendor assessment.

For all media enquiries, please contact the Xero media team.

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