The vast majority (86 per cent) of U.S. human resources professionals say they’re concerned about the current economic environment’s impact on employees’ mental and financial health, according to a new survey by the Society for Human Resource Management.
The survey, which polled more than 1,700 HR professionals, found half (51 per cent) said they’re prioritizing enhanced mental-health benefits in 2023, up from 42 per cent last year. Just 38 per cent said they effectively supported employees with mental-health challenges in 2022.
Read: Expert panel: How employers can support employee mental health in 2023
“We are continuing to see mental health emerge as a critical workplace issue,” said Alex Alonso, chief knowledge officer at the SHRM, in a press release. “Employees at all levels, even at the corporate board level, are focusing on mental health.”
Despite the economic climate, three-quarters (74 per cent) of HR professionals said their organizations will likely expand their workforce this year.
Respondents also indicated employees in remote or hybrid working arrangements are more likely (30 per cent) than their onsite counterparts (21 per cent) to seek a new role. And a quarter (24 per cent) of HR professionals said they plan to seek a new job in 2023.
Read: Remote working moderating wage growth, potentially easing inflation: report