While many large employers believe they are providing a flexible work environment, a new survey reveals that they should be doing more in regards to mental health.
The Northeast Business Group on Health survey, published Monday, found that 26% of employers never identify the needs of employees, nor the “awareness and effectiveness” of their mental health programs. About three in ten respondents don’t have messaging campaigns through social media and internal platforms on mental health.
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The survey included responses from 140 large employers in the U.S. It used a tool that Northeast Business Group on Health launched in November called Well Gauge. The tool asks participants a series of questions through four sections: communicating a commitment to mental health, engaging leadership at all levels, demonstrating a commitment to mental health, and fostering environments that support total health. Users of the tool also receive a list of recommendations to improve mental wellness support at their organization.
“Our Well Gauge Survey Tool was designed by a committee of employers, health plans and providers so that employers can assess how well they’re doing in creating a culture of mental wellbeing and take the recommended concrete steps to improve their score,” said Amy Tippett-Stangler, senior vice president of Northeast Business Group on Health, in a news release.
The survey also found that just 52% of employers “always” or “usually” offer easily accessible information about mental health support. Less than half of employers reported that managers are engaged when it comes to “breaking mental health stigma.” Not only are they often not engaged, but only half “always” or “usually” know how to address employees’ mental health needs and how to direct them to support.
While employers’ actions appear to be lacking in regards to mental health, many employers say they’re helping employees through areas like flexibility in the workplace. For example, 76% of respondents said they “always” or “usually” support a healthy work-life balance, and 85% said they “always” or “usually” offer a flexible work environment.
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In addition, 67% of respondents said they support financial health. About two-thirds said they integrate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives into their organization, and 81% said they encourage employees to get involved in their community.
The survey shows that while employers know that mental health support is vital, more work needs to be done, said Candice Sherman, CEO of Northeast Business Group on Health.
“Supporting employees’ mental health and wellbeing needs has become a top priority for most organizations,” Sherman said in a news release. “While employers understand the importance of providing the resources and tools to support their employees’ overall wellbeing and creating a wellbeing culture, the initial results of our survey clearly show that employers need to take their mental health initiatives to the next level.”
Based on these findings, employers need to help reduce the stigma around mental health and show that the company cares, Tippett-Stangler added.
“Employers need to take steps such as making it clear that employees’ mental health is central to the organization’s core values,” Tippett-Stangler said in an email. “Additionally, leaders need to ‘walk the talk’ and demonstrate they are engaged in supporting both their employees’ and their own-mental health to help normalize conversations around mental health.”
Photo: SIphotography, Getty Images
