A recent study conducted by the HR.com Research Institute, titled 'HR.com's State of Employee Mental Health & Stress in the Workplace 2025', reveals a concerning disparity between employee mental health needs and organizational support systems. The research indicates that 89% of organizations provide mental health benefits, yet only 28% of employees believe these benefits effectively help manage workplace stress. This gap suggests that simply offering benefits is insufficient without proper implementation and cultural support.
The study surveyed a broad spectrum of the workforce and found that 61% of respondents frequently experience stress at work. Despite this high prevalence, less than half of the companies surveyed have effective systems to address mental health issues. The research also uncovered a decline in employee perception of organizational support, with 34% of respondents disagreeing that their organizations go beyond basic benefits to address mental health challenges. This marks a 15-point increase from the previous year, indicating a worsening situation.
Alarmingly, only 9% of organizations have measures in place to assess employee mental health, leaving the majority without the necessary data to enhance support services. This lack of measurement makes it difficult for companies to understand the scope of the problem or evaluate the effectiveness of their interventions. Furthermore, the study highlights a critical lack of preparedness among managers, with only 15% equipped to guide stressed employees and a mere 14% able to recognize signs of stress.
Debbie McGrath, Chief Instigator and CEO of HR.com, emphasized the need for organizations to focus on cultivating a supportive culture, providing manager training, and ensuring leadership accountability to bridge this gap. The findings underscore the urgent need for businesses to reevaluate and strengthen their mental health support systems. Without addressing these issues, organizations risk decreased productivity, higher turnover, and compromised employee well-being. The complete study details are available at https://www.hr.com for those seeking comprehensive data on workplace mental health trends.
