A new survey of UK warehouse workers has found that the mental health picture is improving, with measures and technological integrations easing the issue.
The study found that 42% of warehouse workers have seen their mental health suffer because of their job.
That figure rises among younger workers, under the age of 35, to 60%, according to the study by warehouse management software company, StoreFeeder.
It follows the narrative in the media and other surveys, which have suggested half of Amazon workers suffer burnout.
The new report found almost 70% of people working in warehouses of over 500 employees seeing their mental health suffer, while it’s entry level staff that struggle the most.
However, things are beginning to change, with 43% of workers stating they care about the company they work for and around 80% not expecting to change industries as a result of their mental health.
Among the core reasons for this is the measures being put in place by warehouses to try and better manage staff members’ mental health, with communication, or lack of, being key.
Restricting out-of-hours communication is having a positive impact on over 20% of those struggling with their mental health, something which has been pushed by the new Labour government of late.
Additionally, better communication internally is also improving the mental health of a similar percentage of people.
Flexible working hours has also improved the mental health of one in five workers, as well as access to wellbeing services. However, it’s technology that is having the biggest impact.
Going paperless, using PDAs to know where stock is located and the simplification of stock transfers individually has improved the mental health of over 40% of warehouse workers, while barcode scan despatch processes has improved the mental health of almost 50% of workers.
Ian Dade, Operations Manager at StoreFeeder said, “The mental health of warehouse workers has been a prominent focus for many business owners in recent years.
"Many have come to us to make the process more efficient in order to ease time pressures on staff, one of the key issues driving mental health problems.
“Our WMS system simplifies the orders and picking process, as well as enabling warehouses to become quicker and more efficient at managing orders, as well as improving the organisation of a warehouse as a whole.
"It’s pleasing to see this is having a knock on effect to those working on the ground.”