Dive Brief:
- Workers who say they don’t feel valued by their employers are twice as likely to report that their mental health negatively affects their productivity, according to a March 19 Telus Health report.
- Employees also may be scared to speak out about their concerns; 33% of 3,000 U.S. respondents said they don’t believe or aren’t sure that their workplace is committed to ensuring workers can talk about problems without fear of retaliation.
- Workers under 40 were also less likely to report having trusted relationships at work, which can lead to feelings of isolation and problems with productivity, the report said.
Dive Insight:
Mental health has become a pillar of benefits discussion in recent years, especially as younger workers increasingly demand or expect support from employers in this area.
An Aflac survey found that 2 out of 3 Generation Z workers surveyed said they faced moderate to high levels of burnout, triggered largely by financial instability. An Aflac exec also pointed to ongoing, polarized discourse on social media and in the news exacerbating the mental health troubles of this cohort.
Telus Health similarly noted in its report that younger workers bore the brunt of mental health issues worsened by isolation.“The Index findings reflect a concerning reality, in particular for our younger workers. It also impacts businesses as loneliness and social isolation negatively impact both health and workplace productivity,” Paula Allen, global leader, research & client insights at Telus Health, said in a statement. “Rapid societal changes, alongside diminishing social support, are taking their toll.”
To help employees, organizations should build a culture of trust, Telus Health said, which can counter isolation in tandem with solid benefit offerings.
Younger employees are also more likely to expect or desire benefits to support well-being overall, an Opinium survey published last year said. Gym memberships, mindfulness sessions and wellness stipends attracted the most attention.