New research from The Standard finds employers struggle with similar
challenges when accommodating mental health issues and substance abuse
PORTLAND, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–New research from Standard
Insurance Company (The Standard) finds that employers are struggling
the most to support employees with mental health and substance abuse
issues and aren’t confident in their ability to provide appropriate
accommodations.
The Standard’s Absence
and Disability Readiness Index found that 29% of those surveyed feel
very confident in accommodating employees’ mental health conditions.
Only 28% are very confident in accommodating employees with drug
addictions.
Behind this lack of confidence are three common challenges employers
face when accommodating mental health conditions:
-
Thinking employees hide their conditions: 64% of employers
think their workers hide their conditions. In a separate
study, The Standard found that 47% of employees were scared to
talk about their condition. -
Lack of recognition: 52% of supervisors lack the knowledge to
recognize mental health conditions. -
Stigma: 30% of employers cite that the prejudice against people
with mental health conditions makes it difficult to provide
accommodations.1
“When the signs of mental health and substance use conditions go
unaddressed, it can have a drastic impact on the workplace in the form
of lost productivity and presenteeism,” said Dan Jolivet, Workplace
Possibilities℠ practice consultant at The Standard. “Many
times, HR managers are left to solve these problems alone, reaching far
beyond their area of expertise.”
But instead of going it alone, The Standard found that partnering with a
disability carrier can provide the necessary support and accommodations
for employees. The Standard found that there was a
22% increase in employees’ use of workplace resources — including
referrals to an employee assistance program or employee benefits program
that specifically support mental health conditions — when a disability
carrier was involved in an employee’s return-to-work or stay-at-work
plan.
“Given that most employers currently offer limited support for mental
health issues, these conditions can manifest and create a vicious cycle
for employers,” Jolivet said. “Creating a collaborative approach to
manage disability within an organization can help save time and money,
as accommodations can help boost an employee’s overall health and
productivity. This teamwork between HR managers, direct supervisors and
disability carriers can ensure employees stay productive, healthy and
happy at work.”
1 Absence and Disability Readiness Index, The Standard, 2018, https://www.standard.com/eforms/20503.pdf
About the Absence and Disability Readiness Index
All insights are from an online survey of 501 participants conducted by
Versta for The Standard in April 2018.
About The Standard
The Standard is a marketing name for StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., and
subsidiaries. Insurance products are offered by Standard Insurance
Company of Portland, Oregon, in all states except New York. Product
features and availability vary by state and are solely the
responsibility of Standard Insurance Company.
For more news from The Standard, visit https://newsroom.standard.com/.
Contacts
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Bob Speltz, Senior Director, Public Affairs
971.321.3162
[email protected]
Trade Media
Justin Smith, Bader Rutter
262.938.5483
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