Women who engage with employer-provided benefits miss work less often, new research by the Integrated Benefit Institute found. Mental health benefits have the strongest association with reduced absenteeism, followed by reproductive health services and maternity care.

"This reveals a powerful link between mental health support and workplace attendance," lead researcher Dr. Sera-Leigh Ghouralal said. "In practical terms, employees who utilize mental health support services miss fewer workdays. When you combine this with our finding that 53.5% of women are actively using mental health benefits, it's clear that investing in comprehensive mental health support isn't just good for employee wellbeing — it's a strategic approach to maintaining a productive, engaged workforce."

The majority of respondents reported that in the past 12 months, they sometimes or often went to work while feeling unwell. The main reasons cited for presenteeism are financial necessity, followed by workload concerns. Most respondents reported missing an average of one or two workdays in the past 12 months, followed closely by three to five days. The main reason cited for missing work is acute illness, followed by family or personal responsibilities, such as caregiving.