A third, or 31%, of UK people Brits believe COVID-19 will have a positive effect on health and safety at work, hoping it will be taken more seriously moving forward, according to a survey from Lenstore.

The survey, which focused on Covid-19’s impact of health and safety in the workplace, also found that 25% of respondents believe Covid-19 will have a negative impact on health and safety in the workplace with 15% saying it will have a negative effect as a result of health & safety being taken to the ‘extreme’.

Meanwhile, one in ten people in the UK admit to taking time off work due to an illness caused by their job. Stress, anxiety and depression are the most common work-related illnesses that employees in the UK experience.

The top five industries where respondents are most likely to have taken time off due to a work-related sickness are public services, healthcare, IT and telecoms, legal, and manufacturing and utilities. 

The survey also found that nearly a quarter, or 23%, believe creating a culture where employees can be open and honest is the best way to improve health and safety at work.