West Monroe surveyed business leaders on their attitudes toward mental health in the workplace. Here’s what they told us: They believe mental health has a definite impact on an organization’s business results. Their companies are taking action to support employees—but there’s a disconnect between what companies are doing and what business leaders say would help.
Most business leaders agree: Employees’ mental health and wellbeing has a big impact on a company’s business results. Reflecting on 2021, they say their own mental health has been most impacted by factors related to the pandemic and their jobs. The difference? The pandemic will eventually end—while a job will never stop playing a role, good or bad, in one’s mental health.
Mental health impacts a business—top to bottom.
The majority of organizations are taking some steps to address mental health in the workplace—but some (11%) aren’t doing anything at all. Ownership of initiatives within a company varies widely—and only 7% of business leaders say they own or champion workplace mental health and wellness as part of their own role.
Companies—and business leaders— have more work to do.
Workplaces are taking action to support employees’ mental health, but what they’re prioritizing isn’t always what business leaders think would be most helpful. And a deeper dive into the data shows even a relatively impersonal demographic—job level—makes a difference in what respondents say they’d find most helpful. The takeaway? Mental health is a complex and highly personal issue. No single workplace solution will be equally valuable or useful to employees across the board.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
2-Minute Takedown