The relationship between sex, gender, and workplace accommodations among workers with mental health disorders

Abstract

In 2022, over 5 million Canadians (18%) reported having a mood, anxiety, or substance use disorder over the last 12 months (Stephenson, 2023). These disorders can be attributed to environmental, physiological, genetic, chemical, and social influences. Globally, mental health disorders have been projected to cost the economy $16.1 trillion USD in lost productivity between 2010 and 2030, while also being a main contributor to noncommunicable disabilityadjusted life years lost (Bloom et al., 2011). These economic costs underestimate the full extent of the human suffering experienced by individuals and their families due to mental illness. Workplace accommodations are essential to support individuals with mental health disorders. Almost 40% of employees aged 25-64 with mental health and/or physical disabilities require workplace accommodations. Of these, women have a higher unmet need for accommodations than men, in addition to requiring more accommodations than men (Morris, 2019). Accommodations for mental health disorders are critical in helping employees cope with transient or temporary mental health issues, resulting in longer job tenure, being able to work more hours, and remain employed (Chow, Cichocki, & Croft, 2014; McDowell & Fossey, 2015; Zafar, Rotenberg, & Rudnick, 2019). These accommodations often include flexible work arrangements, job duty modifications, job coaching, feedback from supervisors, and gradual return to work (Bastien & Corbière, 2019; Corbière, Villotti, Lecomte, Bond, & Goldner, 2014; McDowell & Fossey, 2015; Villotti et al., 2017; Zafar et al., 2019). [...]