Managers play largest role in worker mental health: survey

Managers have greater influence on the mental health of workers than doctors and therapists, results of a recent survey suggest.

On behalf of The Workforce Institute at UKG, Walr for Workplace Intelligence in September surveyed 2,200 workers and managers from the United States and nine additional countries about their employment, work-related stress, mental health and other topics. Researchers also surveyed 600 C-suite leaders and 600 human resource executives/directors from the United States. All of the respondents were adults who worked part- or full-time for at least one employer in an hourly or salaried role.

Although 3 out of 5 of the workers indicated that their job has the biggest influence on their mental health, 69% said their manager plays the largest role – the same as a spouse or partner. Managers were cited more often than a doctor (51%) or therapist (41%).

More than 80% of the respondents said they’d prioritize good mental health over a high-paying job. Among U.S. respondents, 70% would leave a high-paying job in favor of one that provides more mental health support, including 70% of Generation Z and 69% of millennial workers.

Other findings:

• 78% of the respondents said stress negatively affects their work performance.
• 64% would take a pay cut to have a job that better supports their mental wellness.
• 43% said they’re “often” or “always” exhausted after work.
• Only 38% who said their workload is a problem acknowledged that they “rarely” or “never” talk to their manager about it.

Managers are experiencing the same stressors as well. Nearly 60% of the managers said they wish someone had warned them not to take their current job, and 46% suggested they’ll quit within the next year because of too much work-related stress.