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Apr 27, 2021 - Health

Employers crafting post-COVID benefits show new commitment to mental health

Tina Reed
Illustration of a person trapped inside a COVID-19 shaped maze

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

Employers are taking a harder look at mental health benefits and employee resource groups as they design their post-COVID benefits packages, according to a new survey by Willis Towers Watson.

Details: 51% of employers said mental health is among their top three benefit priorities; and 33% said the same for employee resource groups.

  • Just 27% of employers put mental health in their top three priorities in 2019.

What they're saying: Most companies saw some pretty significant jumps throughout the pandemic in their mental health claims, said Rachael McCann, senior director of health and benefits and NA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leader at WTW.

Employers also say they want to address social determinants of health in their benefits packages, though they're not sure what, exactly, to do, McCann said.

  • "There's just such a delay between 'Yes, I know it's important,' to 'I know what to do,'" she said.
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