The pandemic has created a mental health crisis, and workplace programs to help haven’t done the job, according to a new survey. Fewer than a third of 494 employers said their well-being /caregiving benefit programs have effectively supported employees during the pandemic.
More than half of survey respondents said that employees’ caregiver issues, such as juggling childcare with work, was a top challenge. Decreased use of paid time off came in a close second.
To address these problems, half of employers said they made changes to PTO or vacation and sick day benefits, but many admitted these were only “short-term” changes. This limited their effectiveness.
More than half of respondents said that stress and burnout were key challenges that they attempted to address with a greater emphasis on mental health services and stress management programs. Two-thirds of employers say that shoring up mental health benefits will be a priority in 2021.
