Workplace mental health a priority for today’s workers

Mental health awareness in the workplace is important to employees, but issues that impact mental health may be a higher priority.

• Most employees (86%) consider mental health awareness in the workplace to be at least somewhat important of them; half (52%) consider it to be very important.
• In general, key factors that may influence employee mental health are as important as mental health awareness, if not more so. Consider the following to be at least somewhat important:
  • Work/life balance: 95% (65% very important)
  • Competitive compensation: 94% (62% very important)
  • Company culture: 88% (47% very important)
  • Employee development: 88% (46% very important)

When it comes to workplace mental health, employers still have room to improve. Failure to do so likely affects turnover and productivity.

• Eight in 10 working adults (81%) agree that employers have an obligation to prioritize their employees’ mental health. However, about as many (77%) report that the topic isn’t discussed enough.
  • More than half of employees (58%) agree that they’re not comfortable discussing their mental health at work. This increases to 67% among those who aren’t satisfied with their experience working for their current employer and among those who are actively searching for a new job.
• About half (47%) of working adults agree that their job has negatively affected their mental health; 43% agree that their mental health has negatively affected their job performance. Again these experiences are more common among those who lack a positive relationship with their current employer.
  • Seven in 10 working adults who are actively seeking a new job, and 64% of those who aren’t satisfied with their experience working for their current employer, agree that their job has negatively affected their mental health.
  • Two thirds (64%) of working adults who are actively seeking a new job, and 54% of those who aren’t satisfied with their experience working for their current employer, agree that their mental health has negatively affected their performance.

Flexibility and wellness go hand-in-hand.

• Flexible working hours is among the most offered wellness benefits, with about half of working adults (47%) reporting that they have some control over their schedule. Healthcare is often a priority, but comparatively less so, for employers.
  • Four in 10 working adults (38%) report that their employer offers affordable healthcare premiums. The same number have access to comprehensive medical coverage.  
    • In general, these benefits are more exclusive to full-time employees.
      • Affordable healthcare premiums: 44% (vs 17% of part-time workers)
      • Comprehensive medical coverage: 42% (vs 25% of part-time works_
    • Three in 10 working adults have access to mental or behavioral health services through their employer.
      • Among those who are not currently offered access to these services, only 4% report that it’s the wellness benefit they want most.
    • Currently, only 13% of employees report that their employer offers unlimited paid time off (PTO). However, it’s among the most desired wellness benefits. Two in 10 (21%) of those who don’t currently have unlimited PTO report that it’s the wellness benefit they want most.
      • Company-wide mental health days more common, but potentially less desirable. About a quarter of working adults (23%) report that their employer offers dedicated mental health days. Among those who aren’t currently offered this time, only 6% consider it the wellness benefit they want most.