New state report examines how work impacts mental and physical health

Report shows how healthy, safe workplaces support worker well-being, prevent health risks, and help employees stay safe, productive, and succeed on the job 

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) released a new Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being report that builds knowledge and offers a comprehensive look at how chronic stress affects a worker’s mental and physical health along with the substantial social and economic burden for employees and employers. The report also includes actionable recommendations aimed at supporting healthy work environments to propel high quality jobs, productivity and a stronger economy in Michigan. 

“When employers prioritize mental health, it’s a win-win – employees feel supported, healthier and more engaged at work, and employers see productivity increase and absenteeism decline,” said Susan Corbin, LEO director. “Our latest workplace mental health report shows that investing in healthy work environments delivers real returns for businesses and meaningful benefits for the people in those jobs, expanding economic opportunity and prosperity for all Michiganders.” 

Key themes in the report include: 

• Work as a social determinant of health. Work is an important determinant of worker health that is deeply interconnected with factors (e.g., income, education, access to health care) that have a profound impact in our life trajectories and can impact future generations. 

• Work-related organizational culture, policies and practices are modifiable. Work is an essential driver of population health and has numerous and cascading impacts on worker’s mental health and well-being. Work-related programs, policies and interventions can be modified to support and improve employees’ health. 

• Chronic stress can lead to structural and functional changes in the brain, influencing cognitive processes, emotional regulation and overall health. Unsafe, hazardous or chronically stressful work environments can have a negative impact on employees’ quality of life that goes beyond the job. 

• A healthy workforce is crucial for the social and economic development of Michigan. Investments in employees’ mental health and well-being start by creating high quality jobs and healthy work conditions for all employees. 

“The new Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being report expands on our deep foundation of workplace mental health by synthesizing current research on how stress — including stress directly related to work — affects the body and influences long-term health outcomes,” said LEO Office of Labor Deputy Director Sean Egan. “The report highlights that work and health are closely intertwined, noting that employment conditions significantly shape a person’s overall well-being and quality of life.” 

Improving employment conditions is an intentional, collaborative effort across workers, businesses, policymakers and academic partners. The report is designed to support the continued development of healthy, resilient workplaces that help build stronger communities throughout Michigan. 

Curated by LEO epidemiologist Lisbeth Iglesias alongside Sean Egan, this latest publication builds on LEO’s first workplace mental health report, released in June 2022, which emerged from a months-long workgroup examining the current data on workplace mental health, the impacts of stress and the conditions that contribute to healthier workplaces. Those initial findings and recommendations continue to guide the state’s ongoing implementation plans. 

View the report and learn more at www.Michigan.gov/HealthyWorkHealthyMind.