Two-Thirds of Employers Globally are Providing Mental Health Support

A new study has found that two-thirds of employees globally (65 percent) say their employers have provided support for their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The research, ‘People at Work 2021: A Global Workforce View’ by the ADP Research Institute, suggests that many employers are taking a proactive approach to supporting their workers’ mental health.

This is particularly important during the pandemic, when individuals are experiencing additional pressures both in their work and personal lives. The report found that one in eight workers globally (13 percent) cited managing stress as their biggest challenge during the pandemic.

However, despite the additional support, some employers have noted greater scrutiny and monitoring during the workday. Two-fifths of workers (40 percent) say that their employer is monitoring timekeeping and attendance more closely now than ever.

Jeff Phipps, Managing Director of ADP in UK and Ireland, said that the huge changes of Covid-19 have cast a spotlight on the support employees need from their organisations, and it is “encouraging to see so many businesses recognize this need – some responding proactively to mitigate the emotional and psychological toll of a global pandemic.”

However, he also warned against undermining these efforts “by becoming too heavy-handed when it comes to monitoring employees”.