According to LinkedIn’s 2022 Global Talent Trends report, there was a 147% increase of the word wellbeing in job postings since 2019. Dr. Jeff Levin-Scherz, a population health leader at WTW, told CNBC that “Mental health is in the forefront of employers’ minds because the understanding of how much need we have is much better than it was a short while ago.” Now, in order to keep current employees, many employers are boosting their mental wellness benefit packages for staff.
Companies are directing money into mental health benefits to attract and maintain their workforce.
American retail giant Walmart announced a Mental Health First Aid training program in May, available virtually and in person at Walmart’s Bentonville Home Office. The training will teach company associates how to provide assistance and support for coworkers, friends, and people in their community who are experiencing mental health challenges. The program will be managed by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and will be offered to employees in addition to their 24/7confidential counseling services.
The Indianapolis Colts launched a partnership with human resource management firm Ulliance earlier this year, initiating a program for its staff, players, and their families. The program provides free and confidential counseling services, access to a 24/7 crisis hotline, crisis intervention, community resources and work-life balance materials, all of which are free to access.
Global employers are also embracing changes to their benefits and work-day practices to help their employees maintain a healthy mental state in a manageable work environment. Employees at the Japanese information and communications technology company Fujitsu reserve periods of “protected focus time” each week, ensuring they have breaks between calls to prevent meeting fatigue, according to the Financial Times. Time away from the office is just as valuable as manageable office etiquette: PwC will now mandate bi-annual vacations for its 55,000 employees by shutting down US offices for a week in July and December. The time off is in addition to its current vacation benefit package.
The employer-facing social platform Wisq raised $20 million in employee wellness funding for 2022, indicating a growing demand for wellness services by employers. This May, city leaders in NYC, Chicago and London are tackling mental health with new, community-curated initiatives as well. Employers are now following a new rule book to attract their staff back to the office, and prioritizing mental health benefits and providing manageable work spaces is at the top of the list.
Main image courtesy of Vodaphone.
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