The conversation around mental health has been gaining traction among employers and benefits teams in recent years, especially in light of the pervasive impacts of the global pandemic on workplace culture and work-life balance. But now with a recession looming, new COVID-19 variants, and the undercurrent of quiet quitting adding to the escalation of burnout, it is clear that more needs to be done. HR and benefits leaders need to take the conversation a step further by introducing the concept of emotional health to their benefits landscape if they want to keep their benefits package up to date.

More than 87% of individuals think that their employer should do more to support their emotional and mental health, and 57% of Gen Z employees state they are more likely to stay with a company that provides mental health support. Emotional health is inherently connected to mental health and plays a critical role in the overall wellbeing of individuals. It can also contribute to positive team culture and better performance. Emotionally healthy teams build environments of trust and collaboration, which create the conditions for employee satisfaction, retention, and ongoing business results. In contrast, emotionally unhealthy individuals and teams pave the way for conflict, churn, burnout, and attrition.