Study Links Mental Health Support to More Productive, Engaged Workers

New research finds that higher rates of benefit use—particularly mental health benefits—among employed women equates to fewer missed workdays.

In a recent survey of 1,001 full-time employed women in the United States, health and productivity research non-profit Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI) sought to highlight the impact of health benefits on employee satisfaction and performance.

Overall, the survey saw 89% of respondents agreeing that employer benefits positively influence workplace satisfaction. In addition, 85% said that benefits play “a crucial role” in attracting and retaining talent, according to an IBI statement. Preventive care was the most commonly used benefit, with 63% of women surveyed saying they access preventive care via their employer, followed by mental health support, at 54%.

The survey determined that increased benefit use leads to fewer missed workdays. Mental health benefits showed the strongest connection to reduced absenteeism, followed by reproductive health services and maternity care, according to IBI.

The study’s findings reveal “a powerful link between mental health support and workplace attendance,” said Sera-Leigh Ghouralal, PhD, lead researcher on the study, in a statement.

“In practical terms, employees who utilize mental health support services miss fewer workdays,” Ghouralal continued. “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.”

Presenteeism continues to be a nagging issue, the survey found, with the majority of respondents reporting they have occasionally or often gone to work while feeling unwell in the past 12 months.

When asked why, many cited financial necessity or workload concerns. Most survey participants indicated they have missed an average of one to two workdays in the past year, with acute illness, and family or personal responsibilities, such as caregiving, the most oft-cited reasons for missing work.

The study’s authors say the findings underscore the importance of prioritizing mental health and reproductive health “to mitigate the impact of health conditions on absenteeism and productivity,” urging employers to invest in early intervention, advocacy, access to care and support programs designed to help employees manage and maintain their overall health effectively.

“Dr. Ghouralal’s research has shed light on one of the most important questions that employers have asked about benefit programs: Are they making a difference?” said IBI CEO Jim Huffman, in a statement. “The correlation analysis shared in this report demonstrates that increased benefit usage for certain programs results in lower rates of absenteeism.”