The Long-Term ROI of Investing in Employee Mental Health

At a glance

• The main takeaway: With the new year right around the corner, now is the time to make a stronger and deeper commitment to employee mental health than in previous years.
• Impact on your business: Investing in employee mental health is a foundational investment that employers must take into consideration when setting up the company for continued growth and success.
• Next steps: If you are interested in improving your employee benefits solutions package to include mental health and wellness support, contact Aprio’s Employee Benefits Services team for advice.

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The full story:

With the new year right around the corner, now is the time to make a stronger and deeper commitment to employee mental health than in previous years. As employee expectations continue to progress in the coming years, employers are encouraged to revisit and update their mental health and wellness benefits to adapt to the changing workplace environment. Investing in employee mental health is a foundational investment that employers must take into consideration when setting up the company for continued growth and success.

Benefits of investing in employee mental health

Workplace burnout is a highly unpleasant mental and physical condition that can occur if you work too hard for too long. Flexible work options, or the ability to tailor employees’ work schedules to their lifestyles, can go a long way toward improving your team members’ mental health, including:

• Improved employee health and wellbeing: From a mental health perspective, many companies are investing in wellness initiatives such as mindfulness or life coaching programs that give employees additional outlets to release, manage, and navigate mental and emotional stress. When employees feel supported, they are more inclined to engage with their colleagues and work in a positive state of mind.
• Increased productivity and retention: Employees with mental health support are likely to be more proactive, creative, and innovative. In a progressively competitive job market, employers who offer a robust mental health benefits package can make their company stand out and attract top talent, which can lead to higher retention rates and a decrease in recruitment costs.
• Decreased healthcare costs and absenteeism: Employers who offer their employees in-house mental wellbeing resources can save up a certain amount of healthcare costs that employees supposedly spend outside company resources. Additionally, employees who have access to company mental health resources and are given the support they need are less likely to miss work, significantly increasing employee productivity.

Strategies to create an effective employee mental health program in 2025

Employers can collaborate with their human resources (HR) team to create and implement a robust mental health program. We recommend reviewing personal leave benefits and mental health & wellbeing resources annually. This allows you to better identify gaps and make improvements as you see fit. Here are a few other recommendations you can implement:

• Conduct mental health trainings: These training programs should give awareness to employee mental health as a whole, focusing on different mental health challenges and signs to look out for; strategies to reduce the stigma around the concept; and best practices for providing support to employees. Create a safe space for employees to discuss their mental health issues, offer peer support groups, and oversee workshops that contribute to improving employee mental health.
• Offer wellness programs: Design holistic wellness programs tailored to different stress levels and job responsibilities. Providing space in the workday for regular exercise, mindfulness sessions, or even stress management workshops could go a long way in promoting good mental and physical health.
• Practice active listening: As an employer, you need to practice active listening when it comes to your employees’ struggles. Regularly asking for feedback through anonymous surveys or one-on-ones can help you gather more information on the effectiveness of current programs or what else needs to be done.
• Implement flexible work arrangements: Some employee benefits — such as paid time off (PTO), parental leave, health insurance, and retirement planning — can significantly reduce stress and improve work/life balance. Hybrid work arrangements or flextime enable employees to adjust their work hours to fit their lifestyle, which can encourage them to come into work refreshed and motivated.
• Leverage Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): An ERG can establish peer support that encourages a safe space for employees to share experiences, reduce the stigma, and promote mutual understanding. ERGs can also spearhead collaboration among various departments for resource sharing on workplace mental health initiatives.

The bottom line

Taking proactive steps to prioritize your employees’ mental health and wellbeing can help you create a more productive workplace and ultimately position your company for continued success and growth. By implementing extensive mental health strategies, you can help foster thriving teams and a more resilient workforce, while improving your company’s overall reputation in the marketplace.

If you are interested in improving your employee benefits solutions package, contact Aprio’s Employee Benefits Services team to get started.

Related Resources/Assets/Aprio.com articles/pages

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