GiftCard Partners Blog

Employee health and wellness continues to be a leading concern for employers, HR leaders, and wellness program brokers. But while physical wellness often gets the spotlight, mental health is an equally critical issue—one that directly affects productivity, morale, and retention.

In today’s fast-paced work environment, recognizing and retaining employees isn’t optional—it’s essential. Whether you lead HR for a hospital system or oversee outreach for a community nonprofit, the challenge is the same:

Employee mental health is a crucial issue for employers as they navigate motivating employees, recognizing achievements, and giving employees the space to find balance between their work and personal lives. Since employees tend to come to their direct managers with mental health challenges like burnout, stress, or personal issues affecting their work, front-line managers aren’t typically trained to handle these situations.  

​Work-related stress continues to be a significant contributor to employee mental health challenges, impacting both individuals and organizations. Recent data indicates that 83% of U.S. workers suffer from work-related stress, with 54% reporting that it affects their home life. This stress can lead to decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and higher healthcare costs. Notably, workplace stress has been reported to cause 120,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.

Nurses are essential to the healthcare system. They provide important patient care and offer emotional support, often working long hours under a lot of pressure. With 4.3 million actively licensed registered nurses (RNs) in the U.S. and 3.5 million currently working, their contributions are immeasurable.