The Prevalence of Workplace Stress in Mexico
“It’s a critical issue in Mexico,” states Víctor García, the subdirector of Consultoría en Salud y Analítica de Datos de Mercer Marsh Beneficios México. He refers to the fact that 43% of workers in the country report feeling stressed most days at work, according to Mercer Marsh Beneficios’ latest Health On Demand report.
Understanding the Impact of Workplace Stress
The report sheds light on the challenges companies still face in health prevention and creating conducive work environments for employee well-being. Víctor García warns that stress contributes to anxiety disorders, depression, sleep issues, gastrointestinal problems, and even weakens the immune system.
Misaligned Benefits and Unmet Needs
Although there’s growing awareness of the importance of holistic person care, including mental health, and businesses have strengthened their initiatives, these efforts fail to address root causes and often don’t align with employees’ needs. For instance, 43% of employees desire emotional well-being tests to detect potential concerns, but only 20% of employers offer this benefit.
Expanding Risk Detection Beyond the Workplace
García emphasizes that another crucial element missing from the prevention equation is expanding risk detection beyond the work context. He suggests exploring dimensions like anxiety, depression, techno-stress, and other psychosocial extralabor risks to comprehensively assess workers’ emotional health conditions and design relevant initiatives.
Consequences of Workplace Stress
Work-related stress implies lower job commitment and reduced performance, notes the consultant. Moreover, 68% of those who experience stress most of the time are actively seeking new jobs, making it a significant factor in talent retention.
- 52% of workers are concerned about their deteriorating emotional well-being.
- 53% are worried about their cognitive decline.
Flexible Work Hours: The Most Desired Benefit
Flexible work hours are the most sought-after benefit by employees, regardless of age, according to Health on Demand.
Eliminating Stigma Around Mental Health
Andrés Machado, subdirector of Bienestar en Mercer Marsh Beneficios, stresses that mental health care initiatives should be accompanied by eliminating stigmas surrounding mental health. He advocates for continuous focus on emotional health, working with leaders to identify and support those in need, and providing organizations with tools to assist employees while reducing stigma around treatments.
Employers’ Role in Health and Well-being
Ariel Almazán, leader of Workforce Health at Mercer Marsh Beneficios for Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean, highlights that employers play a critical role in providing better access to quality healthcare services. He points out that Mexicans trust their employers as the primary source of quality and accessible medical care, a trend shared across Latin America.
Almazán emphasizes that offering health benefits is part of a company’s responsibility to create healthy work environments with proper risk management and addressing employee needs. He explains that it’s about equipping individuals in their work environment—their “second home”—with tools for self-awareness and self-care through education and health promotion, actively contributing to both individual well-being and productivity.
