Why is depression in the workplace an issue employers should be concerned about?
Employers may be surprised to learn that 16.5 percent of employees in the U.S. are affected by major depression, and that most receive inadequate treatment or none at all. Obviously, depression in the workplace can affect missed days and productivity as well as health care costs within an organization. A survey by the RAND Corporation found that patients with depressive symptoms spend more days in bed than those with diabetes, arthritis, back problems, lung problems or gastrointestinal disorders. No job category or professional level is immune from depression, and even an employee who has been outstanding in the past can be affected. How costly is depression in the workplace to employers? It is estimated that depression in the U.S. costs employers $44 billion in lost production time. Workers with depression lose an average of 5.6 productive hours per week, as compared to 1.5 for workers without depression. Depression increases absenteeism risk for employees. But it is far from a hopele
