Ben’s 2025 Health & Wellbeing Survey: A Wake-Up Call for the Automotive Industry

Having been involved in Ben's Annual Health and Wellbeing Survey for the past eight years, I've witnessed its evolution from a modest paper-based questionnaire to a comprehensive online survey reaching over 1,000 respondents across all sectors of the automotive industry. This transformation reflects not only technological advancement but also a growing recognition of the importance of employee wellbeing in the UK automotive industry.

Key Findings from the 2025 Survey

 Almost all (99.8%) survey respondents have been personally affected by a health & wellbeing issue. The latest survey reveals some concerning trends:

• Mental Health Challenges: 1 in 9 were personally affected by a lack of support for mental health in the workplace

• Prevalence of Stress: Stress remains the most common health and wellbeing issue, affecting 57% of respondents.  Long hours have driven the rise in workplace stress which has had a knock on impact. Whereas work-life balance is now the biggest driver of stress overall (at home or at work) with showroom, garage and warehouse workers have seen the largest increases in poor work-life balance. Showroom and garage workers have too seen the largest uplift in toxic workplace culture. Although this is an issue for all workers, this issue is more impactful in the UK automotive industry. Almost 2 in 3 (62%) of UK workers agree they have a good work-life balance compared to only 46% of automotive workers.

• Financial Pressures: 1 in 6 are now skipping meals and 1 in 5 have struggled with debt (1 in 7 pre-crisis). 12% of automotive workers in North-East England have used a food bank (7% for other UK workers in the North East).

• Retention Concerns: 1 in 2 who are considering leaving the automotive industry are doing so for their mental health (excluding those who are retiring). 4 in 5 (78%) have come into work despite being mentally or physically unwell compared to 3 in 5 (60%) for UK workers.

Implications for Automotive Leaders

These findings underscore the urgent need for industry leaders to prioritize employee wellbeing:

1. Implement Comprehensive Wellbeing Programs: Develop initiatives that address mental health, stress management, and financial literacy. BenLife is a great starting point for employers to build up wellbeing initiatives.

2. Promote Work-Life Balance: Encourage practices that allow employees to rest and recharge, reducing burnout and improving overall productivity. That means ensuring staff are not taking on multiple job roles and are limited in working overtime.

3. Provide Financial Support Resources: Offer access to financial planning tools and counselling to help employees manage economic pressures. Could larger organisations assist with providing meals or ensuring workers take their breaks to have meals?

4. Foster Open Communication: Create an environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their wellbeing concerns without fear of stigma. This is hugely important - creating safe spaces to have 1 to 1 conversations about work and wellbeing is key. Maybe it is training managers or maybe encouraging staff to become mental health first aiders to meet these challenges. For your smaller businesses such as garages, it is about knowing what support is out there.

Looking Ahead

The automotive industry is at a crossroads. The data from Ben's 2025 survey serves as a clarion call for change. By acknowledging the challenges the automotive workforce faces and taking proactive steps to address them, we can build a more resilient, supportive, and productive industry.

For those interested in exploring the full report and accessing resources to support employee wellbeing, visit Ben's official website.

Note: This blog post is based on the findings from Ben's Annual Health and Wellbeing Survey Report 2025. For a detailed overview, please refer to the official report.