A STUDY FROM DELOITTE ESTIMATES THAT SUCH CONCERNS ARE COSTING UK EMPLOYERS £ 8 BILLION ANNUALLY IN ABSENTEEISM AND PRESENTEEISM.
F E A T U R E
A STUDY FROM DELOITTE ESTIMATES THAT SUCH CONCERNS ARE COSTING UK EMPLOYERS £ 8 BILLION ANNUALLY IN ABSENTEEISM AND PRESENTEEISM.
Furthermore, a majority of working parents( 63 %) who are concerned about their children’ s mental health, say they turn to external sources of support to manage these challenges, rather than approaching their employer.
The link between screen time and mental health
This year’ s theme,‘ Screen Smart Parenting’, offers an opportunity to explore the challenges surrounding problematic screen use faced by families, and the role employers can play in providing effective support. While digital devices can provide entertainment and educational benefits, excessive screen time is increasingly linked to negative mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression and disrupted sleep. This adds another layer of stress for parents who often struggle to manage their children’ s screen habits while balancing professional responsibilities.
Practical solutions for employers
There are a number of ways to provide meaningful support. Flexible working policies, for example, allow parents to work from home or adjust their hours to better manage childcare responsibilities. This flexibility can be especially valuable for parents with young children who are not yet in school and would prefer to monitor their early screen use themselves.
Employee Assistance Programmes
Another impactful solution is providing Employee Assistance Programmes( EAPs), which can offer access to professionals such as psychologists or therapists. These programmes can support parents in managing
34 www. intelligenthealth. tech