There’s often a stigma that’s associated with employees’ mental health issues — and that can hurt businesses of all stripes.
Reason: Employees suffering from conditions like anxiety, bipolar disorder and depression aren’t getting the treatment they need.
In fact, three out of four employees with a mental health disorder may be forgoing treatment because they’re afraid of losing their jobs.
That according to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The report also found that employees suffering from mental illness are absent more frequently than workers without these conditions — and between 30% to 50% of all new disability claims are for mental health issues.
When workers fail to get the treatment they need, it wreaks havoc on their productivity – and eventually impacts employers’ bottom lines.
So what can you do? First, employers may want to put some effort into talking up the benefits of their employee assistance program. Also, it’s important for firms to look for ways to get rid of the stigma that’s often attached to those with mental health issues.
