27 September 2023

Mental health: The top issue for young workers?

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Dan Schawbel* says the pandemic experience has been a game-changer for many millennials and Gen Zs. They want support for their mental health and won’t accept high levels of workplace stress.


For the younger generations in the workforce, the events of the past year have been life-changing in a multitude of ways.

The pandemic caused millennials and Gen Zs to rethink what truly matters to them, a mindset shift that has had an enormous impact on their work perspectives.

At the same time, tumultuous racial, social, and economic events unfolded around them, reinforcing their desire to make a difference and to work for an employer that’s committed to driving broader societal change.

Business leaders who want to attract and retain these talented, ambitious, and passionate employees would do well to note how their expectations have evolved over the past year.

Many leaders I’ve spoken with agree that they’re already seeing a shift within their organisations, and they’re adjusting their strategies, policies, and even their culture to meet the demands of these young workers.

For example, they want support for their mental health, and they won’t accept high levels of workplace burnout and stress.

Even well before the pandemic, mental health was a top priority for younger generations.

A 2019 study discovered that half of millennials and 75 per cent of Gen Z workers had left jobs for mental health reasons.

However, COVID-19 exacerbated many of the underlying factors causing mental health issues for these workers.

Research confirms that compared to their elders, younger generations have struggled the most over the past year, with Gen Z and millennials working harder, feeling more stressed, and experiencing the most burnout.

While the worst of the pandemic may be behind us, Deloitte’s latest study on millennial and Gen Z expectations found that 41 per cent of millennials and 46 per cent of Gen Zs still feel stressed all or most of the time.

Their report also highlighted that four out of 10 respondents say their employers don’t have policies in place to help support their mental health.

Organisations need to continue their efforts in this space if they want to keep their workforce healthy and avoid losing their top talent.

Chief Wellbeing Officer at Deloitte, Jen Fisher agrees with this assessment.

“The pandemic put a spotlight on mental health, but the results of our survey show there is a lot more work that needs to be done in the workplace to reduce stigma, increase awareness, and provide greater mental health support,” she says.

“As employees go back to the office or move to a hybrid work model, leaders that put mental health at the top of their agenda will better position their people and their organisations to thrive during this transition.”

*Dan Schawbel is a bestselling author and Managing Partner of Workplace Intelligence, a research and advisory firm helping HR adapt to trends, drive performance and prepare for the future.

This article is part of his Workplace Intelligence Weekly series.

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