4 Helpful Ways to Better Support Employee Mental Health

Company culture plays no small part in shaping employee mental health. Employee wellbeing has a similar impact on your organization’s overall success. A University of California, Riverside study found that organizations that invested in physical and emotional wellbeing saw a 5% increase in productivity.

With employee mental health increasingly in the spotlight, organizations nationwide have begun to craft their benefits strategies to better support worker wellbeing. Calm’s 2024 Voice of the Workplace Report found 4 key mental health trends that are shaping modern workplaces.

Here’s what to know about mental health at work — plus, how you can better support struggling employees.

1. Use financial wellness benefits to combat a top threat to employee mental health — financial stress.

According to data from Calm, nearly 60 percent of employees grapple with at least some feelings of anxiousness regarding their financial future.

Another 71 percent of employees say financial stress negatively affects their professional and personal lives. Some have even scaled back contributions to both their short- and long-term savings as a result of this strain.

According to another study conducted by Morgan Stanely, financial pressures have prompted 52 percent of employees to ask for access to a financial advisor directly through their workplace. Tools for goals-based retirement investment planning and retirement planning resources and calculators are also in high demand among employees.

Financial wellness benefits help to ensure that employees are building healthy habits. Ongoing education about these benefits can help promote their utilization and employers can effectively address the challenges associated with employee financial stress.

2. Consider limiting technology use to protect mental health.

New technology has become increasingly integral to many workplaces. Although these advancements have many benefits, they also blur the boundaries between professional and personal life, which may lead to burnout.

The ubiquity of technology increases the pressure to remain connected to the workplace, even beyond regular working hours. A growing number of employees report that they are always available to work and 46% often extend their work into non-office hours, according to Calm data.

Increasing communication between employers and employees is necessary to create a positive working environment. Employers must establish clear guidelines regarding technology usage to safeguard employees’ wellbeing . This could entail disabling app notifications during non-working hours, promoting microbreaks throughout the day and granting employees the flexibility to decline meetings when necessary .

Employers can further support their workforce by implementing mechanisms to gauge and monitor employee wellbeing, such as quarterly pulse surveys to inquire about workloads and work-life balance . To aid employees in managing stress and anxiety on a day-to-day basis, employers might consider proactive resources like Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) that ensure employees are well-informed about their benefits options.

3. Improve mental health resources for individuals of all backgrounds.

Creating an inclusive environment for all employees is key to improving the mental health of any diverse workforce. This means providing benefits for a wide variety of needs and abilities.

According to APA’s Work in America survey, employees with cognitive and emotional disabilities were more likely to report a negative work environment. Many of these employees experience discrimination at work, especially those with “invisible” disabilities.

Invisible disabilities are classified as impairments that limit a person’s activity but are not apparent from the outside. This can be especially frustrating for employees who request certain accommodations but are unable to get the help they need.

Based on data from the CDC, 61 million adults across the U.S. identify as having a disability, while 10% of those are invisible disabilities. It is more important than ever to be transparent with benefits practices and support employees who need help the most. Increasing flexibility measures, such as enabling remote work and granting more autonomy over schedules, can help support your workforce’s overall health.

By recognizing that your employees have diverse health needs, employers can explore avenues to offer comprehensive health and wellness benefits, fostering an environment where women feel empowered to vocalize their health-related needs .

4. Improve benefits transparency to support Gen Z workers.

Employees born between 1997 and 2012 (also known as Gen Z) statistically struggle with the highest levels of stress and anxiety when compared to other generations. Nearly 75% of Gen Z workers reported feelings of sadness or depression, according to Calm. Gen Z also stands out as the loneliest generation, due to heightened career uncertainty, the escalating cost of living, financial instability and being overworked.

However, Gen Z is also statistically more inclined than other generations to advocate for accessible mental health support. More than 75% push for a stronger emphasis on mental health in the form of workplace benefits. Transparency and open access to these tools are crucial and can empower Gen Z individuals to feel more in control.

Mental health benefits can help create new opportunities for both in-person and remote meetings help empower younger employees. Employers can also implement measures such as mental health days and initiatives like Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to promote well-being.

Support employee mental health with US Legal and Best Money Moves.

Finding new ways to improve employee mental health is a basic expectation for companies moving forward. It’s critical to take steps toward mental health advocacy to improve the wellbeing of your entire workforce.

That’s why US Legal has partnered with Best Money Moves, an award-winning financial wellness platform. Best Money Moves helps employees make smarter decisions when managing money, so your team can increase their financial confidence and reduce financial stress. Connect your team with interactive budgeting, saving and debt management tools and a library of 1000+ educational resources that offer unbiased, easy-to-read financial guidance.

To learn more about how group legal insurance benefits from U.S. Legal Services and financial wellness support from Best Money Moves can help your team, contact us online or call 1.800.356.LAWS for a quote.