Report: Mental health issues weigh on worker productivity

More than half of Filipino workers say their mental health negatively affects their productivity, while nearly half frequently end their workday feeling mentally or physically exhausted, according to a report by TELUS Health.

The TELUS Mental Health Index found that 55 percent of workers said their mental health affected their productivity, while 48 percent often experienced end-of-day exhaustion.

The report also found that 82 percent worked while mentally or physically unwell at least once a week, highlighting the productivity costs of presenteeism — or reduced effectiveness while working despite being unwell.

Workers who frequently experienced exhaustion recorded an estimated annual productivity loss of 49.5 working days, compared with 29.7 days among those who did not report exhaustion.

The study also found that employees who worked while unwell four or five days a week recorded estimated annual productivity losses of 64.1 to 71.1 days. Those who never worked while unwell had an estimated loss of 17.3 days.

Financial pressures further compound the problem. Half of respondents identified personal finances as their main source of stress, while 54 percent said they lacked emergency savings to cover basic needs.

Workers citing finances as their main stressor recorded an estimated annual productivity loss of 44.6 working days. Those without emergency savings also had a lower mental health score of 55.5 out of 100, compared with 69 among those with savings.

“For many workers in the Philippines, daily financial survival and family obligations leave little room for long-term safety nets,” said Paula Allen, global leader of research and insights at TELUS Health.

The report also highlighted the stigma surrounding mental health concerns in the workplace. Seventy-seven percent of workers said they would worry about having limited career options if their employer knew they had a mental health issue.

Meanwhile, 63 percent said they would feel negatively about themselves if they experienced a mental health issue, up from 57 percent in 2022.

“Workplace culture and cultural stigma are barriers to workforce wellbeing in the Philippines,” said Jamie MacLennan, Asia-Pacific region head of TELUS Health.

MacLennan said employers should train managers to handle wellbeing conversations and establish accessible, judgment-free support systems for employees.

Cost remained the most commonly cited barrier to mental health support, with 52 percent of workers saying it prevented them from seeking help. Another 32 percent did not know what type of care they needed, while 29 percent did not know where to seek assistance.

The survey also found gaps in workplace support: only 60 percent of managers said they would know what to do if they suspected an employee was struggling with a mental health issue, while 42 percent of workers said their managers had not informed them about available health and wellbeing programs.

Younger employees faced additional pressures. Workers under 40 were twice as likely as those over 50 to report constant stress and identify mental health as their main personal stressor. They were also 70 percent more likely to end the workday feeling mentally or physically exhausted.