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HR teams, for the most part, are still figuring out what mental health benefits their workforce wants most. But recently shared survey data of more than 5,400 U.S. workers from Gallup and Bentley University sheds light on the policies workers say would have a positive impact on their well-being.
Seventy-seven percent of respondents say they favor a four-day, 40-hour workweek instead of five, stating such a benefit would have an extremely positive or somewhat positive effect. Seventy-four percent of workers say they are in favor of “mental health days,” where they can access paid time off for mental health reasons. And 73% are in favor of limiting the amount of work employees are expected to do outside of the workday.
Though mental health screenings are the least favored option among respondents, 61% still say such screenings have an extremely positive or somewhat positive impact on well-being.
Companies are increasingly turning their attention to mental wellness, and for good reason. In a May survey from the Conference Board, 34% of workers said their mental health was worse than it was six months prior. Issues like working 50 or more hours per week, inadequate work-life balance, and too much time spent in meetings were linked to worsened mental health.
Companies that offer benefits like mental health days or four-day workweeks have seen positive effects. Consulting firm Insigniam, which experimented with a four-day week, found that workers in the experiment group reported lower stress levels. Other employers, including NerdWallet and mental health startup Alma, offer paid time off for employees to take mental health or self-care days.
At hospitality staffing startup Qwick, job applications grew 230% month-over-month after announcing a four-day workweek pilot. Morale at the company also improved, it said, and the share of employees reporting feeling “well rested and ready for work on Monday mornings” increased by 32% just four months in.
Paige McGlauflin
paige.mcglauflin@fortune.com
@paidion
