LifeWorks, a leading provider of digital and in-person total well-being solutions supported by TELUS Health, today released its monthly Mental Health Index™ reporting that benefits and flexibility are key factors when choosing a workplace.
The Index found that the mental health of U.S. workers remains significantly strained.
- The Mental Health Index™ score for October 2022 is 69.9 points out of 100, a modest decrease from September’s score of 70.2, but ahead of the October 2021 score of 69.0.
- Full-time, post-secondary students have the lowest mental health scores for the fifth consecutive month.
- With a 1.1-point decrease, the financial risk sub-score showed the greatest decline from September, though none of the measured sub-scores were improved.
After pay, benefits and flexibility are the largest factors in choosing an employer
- 33 percent say that benefits and services offered for health and wellbeing is the most important factor when choosing an employer
- 29 percent prioritize flexibility as the most important factor
- 21 percent consider the type of work most important
- 12 percent would choose employers with a reputation of a positive workplace culture
Employees who feel the need to prioritize flexibility have a lower mental health score than those who choose other key decision factors, while workers who focus on the type of work score the highest.
Manager leadership traits significantly impact employee mental health
- Employees who rate their manager as strong in five key areas (autonomy, charisma, humanity, participative, team-oriented) have better mental health than those rating their manager poorly.
- Employees who care about their work (87 percent) and who try to exceed expectations (82 percent) both score two points higher than the national average. Almost all those who work for autonomous, charismatic leaders fall into this category.
- Americans who rate their manager poorly in each of the five categories have 2.5 times lower productivity than those rating their manager more favorably.
Comments from TELUS Health Chief Operating Officer, Michael Dingle
“Health benefits–and particularly mental health benefits–have moved center stage and have a tangible impact on employees, their families and where they want to work. With the Mental Health Index, business leaders can see that benefits and other key employment priorities, like flexibility and quality leadership, correlate directly to worker effort, productivity and mental health.”
Comments from LifeWorks global leader and Senior Vice President, research and total well-being, Paula Allen
“Although pandemic-related restrictions have essentially ended, the mental health scores show persistent feelings of anxiety and isolation among American workers. At the same time, they face new stressors of inflation and the risk of recession, all negatively impacting overall mental health. In this environment, we clearly see the influence of workplace leaders on mental health.”
The full United States LifeWorks Mental Health Index™ report can be found here. This month, the report includes additional insights on work preferences, preference between salary increases and better well-being support, frequency of working while unwell and more.
LifeWorks is a wholly owned subsidiary of TELUS now operating as part of TELUS Health as a result of its recent acquisition.
