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Younger employees continue to feel the impact of mental health challenges in the workplace. Although the COVID-19 public health emergency will officially end later this month, employers need to remain engaged in meeting the needs of their workers.
"An employer's role in addressing employees' mental health as it relates to the workplace has obviously become increasingly important," says Wendi Safstrom, president of the SHRM Foundation. "Finding, communicating and providing access to the benefits and support that reflect the needs of your employees, especially in a multi-generational workplace, is key."
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One-third of U.S. workers say their job has negatively affected their mental health in the past six months, according to the organization's 2023 State of Mental Health & Well-Being in the Workplace report. Moreover, 47% of Generation Z employees and 46% of millennial workers say they have experienced stress related to their job at least once a week in the last six months, compared to 27% of baby boomer and traditionalist workers.
Among other key findings:
- More than 1 in 4 Gen Z workers say their job made them feel depressed at least once a week in the last six months, compared to 18% of millennials, 14% of Gen Xers and 7% of baby boomers.
- Forty-two percent of Generation Z and 36% of millennial employees say their job made them feel overwhelmed once a week in the last six months, compared to fewer than 1 in 4 baby boomers and traditionalists.
Related: 21% of workers at 'high mental health risk' and unaware of available counseling
- Nearly 1 in 4 Gen Z and 17% of millennial workers say their job made them feel lonely once a week in the last six months, compared to 5% of baby boomers and traditionalists.
- Roughly 1 in 3 Generation Z employees and more than 1 in 4 millennial employees say their job made them feel disengaged at least once per week over the last six months, compared to Gen Xers (16%) and baby boomers and traditionalists (8%).
The SHRM Foundation provides research, tools, training and other resources to equip employers to improve mental health support in their workplaces.
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Alan Goforth
Alan Goforth is a freelance writer in suburban Kansas City. In addition to freelancing for several publications, he has written a dozen books about sports and other topics.
