Study Reveals Gap in Workplace Mental Health Support Despite Available Benefits
TL;DR
Organizations can gain a competitive edge by enhancing mental health support, as only 9% currently measure employee mental health effectively.
HR.com's 2025 report details a gap in mental health support, with only 28% of employees feeling their organizations effectively manage workplace stress.
Improving workplace mental health support can significantly enhance employee well-being and foster a more supportive and productive work environment.
A startling 61% of employees often feel stressed at work, yet few organizations are equipped to offer meaningful mental health support.
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A recent study by the HR.com Research Institute, titled 'HR.com's State of Employee Mental Health & Stress in the Workplace 2025', reveals a troubling disconnect between the mental health support employees need and what organizations are providing. Despite 89% of organizations offering mental health benefits, only 28% of employees believe these benefits are effective in managing workplace stress. This disparity points to a critical area for improvement in workplace policies and practices.
The study surveyed a wide range of employees and found that 61% frequently experience stress at work. However, less than half of the companies surveyed have effective systems to address these mental health issues. This lack of support is further compounded by a decline in employee perception of organizational commitment to mental health, with 34% of respondents feeling their organizations do not go beyond basic benefits to address mental health challenges. This marks a 15-point increase from the previous year, indicating a growing dissatisfaction among employees.
One of the most alarming findings is that only 9% of organizations have measures in place to assess employee mental health. This lack of data makes it difficult for companies to understand the scope of the problem or how to effectively address it. Additionally, the study highlights a significant gap in manager preparedness, with only 15% of managers feeling equipped to guide stressed employees and a mere 14% able to recognize signs of stress. This underscores the need for comprehensive training programs to better prepare managers to support their teams.
Debbie McGrath, Chief Instigator and CEO of HR.com, stresses the importance of creating a supportive culture, providing manager training, and ensuring leadership accountability to bridge this gap. The findings of the study serve as a wake-up call for businesses to reevaluate and strengthen their mental health support systems. By doing so, organizations can foster a healthier, more productive workforce and ultimately, improve both employee well-being and organizational performance.
For more information on the study, visit https://www.hr.com.
Curated from Newsworthy.ai
