ECA survey seeks to uncover the human cost of payment abuse
ECA (Electrical Contractors’ Association) is calling for responses from construction and facilities management sectors at all levels of the supply chain across all trades, to share how late payments are affecting their mental health.
For years, ECA has been calling for tougher action on fair payment, highlighting the damaging impact on businesses, in particular SMEs, at the end of the supply chain. Now, ECA aims to better understand the toll that late payments take on individuals’ mental health and wellbeing.
Construction workers face some of the most significant mental health challenges of any sector, with two construction workers, on average, taking their own lives each day. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that, during 2023-24, 18% of all ill health in the construction sector was related to mental health with approximately 14,000 workers suffering from work-related stress, depression and anxiety.
The 2025 Construction/FM: Payment Mental Health Survey explores the sacrifices and pressures management have had to endure due to late or unfair payment practices, including both personal and professional impacts.
Please complete this short, anonymous survey. The findings will inform ECA’s thought leadership and support the work of others who campaign for fairer payment practices.
To learn more about ECA’s work toward creating a fairer business landscape, visit this page. ECA’s Legal & Business team has produced guidance and templates to support Members with payment practices and offers a free Member Helpline to answer your queries, find out more here. Visit ECA's dedicated Mental Health page for signposts to further support for you and your employees.
This article and image appear on the ECA news and blog site as "ECA survey seeks to uncover the human cost of payment abuse" dated 15 July 2025.
--ECA
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- 37% of SMEs suffer mental health problems due to pay issues.
- Adversarial behaviour in the UK construction industry.
- Amendment to Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations approved..
- Causes of construction disputes.
- Collaborative practices.
- Construction Supply Chain Payment Charter.
- Cooling off period.
- Default payment notice.
- Down payment chain.
- Due date.
- ECA applauds Chancellor’s 2023 Autumn Statement payment reforms for SMEs.
- Ethics in construction.
- Fair payment practices for construction.
- Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act.
- Hybrid construction contract.
- Improving the terms of contractor payments.
- Insolvency.
- Late payment.
- Main contractor’s discount.
- Off site materials.
- Payment.
- Payment notice.
- Payment schedule.
- Payments to nominated sub-contractors.
- Pay less notice.
- Payment period.
- PPN 021: Payment Spot Checks in Public Sub-Contracts.
- Professional practice.
- Progress on poor payment practices.
- Project bank accounts.
- Prompt payment code.
- Remedies for late payment.
- Retention held in trust fund.
- Scheme for Construction Contracts.
- Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill.
- SMEs and government contracts.
- The causes of late payment in construction.
- The Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations 2013.
Featured articles and news
A case study and a warning to would-be developers
Creating four dwellings for people to come home to... after half a century of doing this job, why, oh why, is it so difficult?
Reform of the fire engineering profession
Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, reactions and next steps.
Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster
A complex project of cultural significance from full decant to EMI, opportunities and a potential a way forward.
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.
Futurebuild and UK Construction Week London Unite
Creating the UK’s Built Environment Super Event and over 25 other key partnerships.
Welsh and Scottish 2026 elections
Manifestos for the built environment for upcoming same May day elections.
Advancing BIM education with a competency framework
“We don’t need people who can just draw in 3D. We need people who can think in data.”

























