Making mental health benefits central to workplace wellness plans

(Photo: Jorm S/Shutterstock)

Implications from the pandemic continue to impact the workplace and challenge employers, as it was recently announced the death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 1 million in the United States. Stressors associated with health precautions in the workplace, as well as financial and job insecurities, have also made impacts on employee behavioral health. The call for more employers to implement mental health programs continues to grow, highlighting the importance of a whole person approach to employee well-being.

According to the 2020 Behavioral Health Impact Update from The Standard, 46% of full-time American workers reported suffering from mental health issues in 2021 and 55% of those workers reported that it has affected their job performance. Additionally, the study suggests that younger workers are struggling the most with compound stressors such as housing instability, more debt, less job security, and lower wages than previous generations. These factors, including inflation, have a wide array of effects on behavioral health associated with employee performance and productivity. During the pandemic, an astounding 65% of employees have reported that they’ve lost over 10 hours of productivity per week due to mental health issues, with 11% of the workforce now struggling with serious mental health illnesses. Now in the wake of the Great Resignation, employees need support, and employers are best positioned to provide it with their guidance and support of benefits advisors.