Negative workplace culture impacts mental health and leads to two and a half times less productivity than positive environments
LifeWorks, a leading business provider of digital and in-person total wellbeing solutions recently released its monthly Mental Health Index™ revealing that four out of 10 (38%) Americans believe there is a significant difference between the culture their workplace claims to have compared to the reality. Importantly, negative workplace cultures impact mental health and lead to two and a half times less productivity per year than positive work environments.
The Index, conducted through an online survey from August 4 to 12, 2022 with 3,000 respondents in United States, found that the mental health of U.S. workers remains significantly strained since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Key data includes:
Workplace culture is impacting the productivity of workers
- More than half of all employees believe the work culture affects their productivity. The overall U.S. Workplace Culture Score, a rating based on responses to nine cultural indicators, is 68.7 out of 100, which correlates directly to both mental health and the level of productivity.
- Nearly half (46 percent) report that their workplace culture increases productivity. This group has the most favorable mental health score (72.0) and applies more energy to their work.
- Almost one in ten (9 percent) report that their workplace culture decreases productivity. The mental health score of this group is 56.3, which sits13 points below the national average (69.4).
- Managers are 50 percent more likely than non-managers to indicate that their workplace culture increases their productivity.
Mental health is heavily influenced by realities of workplace culture
- The employee group that sees a strong disparity between the employer’s claim of a positive culture and their day-to-day reality, has a mental health score six points below the national average and almost 14 points below people who believe reality is aligned with employer claims.
- Those who say their workplace is uncaring or hostile have the lowest mental health scores (55.1), more than 21 points lower than those who consider the workplace supportive.
- Nine percent of respondents report their workplace culture does not promote inclusiveness. This group has a mental health score eight points below the national average.
“In prior Mental Health Index reports, we have highlighted data that shows employees who work for organizations that support mental health, have better mental health scores than employees who work for organizations that don’t,’ said Lifeworks global leader and senior Vice President Research & Wellbeing, Paula Allen. “The current data clearly shows that in addition to services and resources, workplace culture plays a strong role. We have identified nine indicators that make a difference and can be improved with specific actions and behaviors that support wellbeing and enable each person to work at the top of their own scale.” she added.
The full United States LifeWorks Mental Health Index™ report can be found here. This month, the report includes additional insights on work preferences, preference between salary increases and better wellbeing support, frequency of working while unwell and more.
About Lifeworks
LifeWorks is a world leader in providing digital and in-person solutions that support the total wellbeing of individuals. We deliver a personalized continuum of care that helps our clients improve the lives of their people and by doing so, improve their business. LifeWorks is a wholly owned subsidiary of TELUS now operating as part of TELUS Health as a result of its recent acquisition. For more information visit https://us.lifeworks.com/
