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Employers Losing War on Stress

By Matt Finkelstein | Inc.com
October 30, 2007

A new survey says most companies do not adequately address the mental health needs of their employees.

Employers are not doing enough to combat stress and other mental health issues in the workplace, according to a recent survey conducted by Meritain Health and the Partnership for Workplace Mental Health.

Of 411 full-time employees with medical benefits, 52 percent said their employers do not address the mental health of employees, while 40 percent said they were unaware of what mental health benefits -- if any -- were offered. About 36 percent of those surveyed said they would be more likely to use mental health benefits if their employers promoted them better.

Overall, 94 percent of respondents said that stress affects their job performance, including their relationship with co-workers, their productivity, and their relationship with supervisors.

"These survey results illustrate the need for employers to better make the connection between mental health conditions and lost productivity, offer more comprehensive mental health benefits and better promote these benefits to their employees," Larry Luter, chief medical officer of Meritain Health, said in a statement.

Read the full story: "New Survey Reveals Connection Between Mental Health and Productivity"

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