Bill Overview
Title: To direct the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to establish an occupational research program on mental health.
Description: This bill requires the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to carry out a research program to develop recommendations for supporting workers who are exposed to and affected by workplace stressors that contribute to adverse mental health outcomes.
Sponsors: Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1]
Target Audience
Population: People exposed to workplace stressors contributing to adverse mental health outcomes.
Estimated Size: 100000000
- Mental health issues can affect workers across all occupational sectors.
- The International Labour Organization estimated 3.3 billion people were employed worldwide in 2021.
- Not all workers experience significant workplace stressors, but a substantial portion can be affected by them.
- World Health Organization emphasizes the growing impact of workplace stress on global mental health.
Reasoning
- This policy targets a subset of the workforce experiencing significant workplace stressors. The likelihood of improvement depends on the awareness and responsiveness to mental health issues by the employing organization.
- The budget constraints imply that support and research will be rolled out in phases, potentially impacting certain sectors more initially.
- Given the awareness and societal shifts towards valuing mental health, even workers not directly in the program might benefit from increased workplace mental health awareness and practices.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (Austin, Texas)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe that workplace stress is a huge issue in the tech industry.
- I'm hopeful that with more research and support, companies will start implementing better mental health practices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Factory Worker (Detroit, Michigan)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My job can be really stressful, but I think some of it is out of the company's control.
- Hoping this policy shines a light on our working conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Healthcare Worker (San Francisco, California)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Healthcare is demanding and mental health support is crucial for us.
- Policy sounds good but it needs to translate to real changes on the ground.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Corporate Manager (New York, New York)
Age: 54 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have seen how stress can affect not just employees but also managers.
- Support on how to handle stress can be very beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retail Employee (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think having more support would help, sometimes the shifts are just too much.
- Not sure how much impact a policy can have on big retail companies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Teacher (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Teachers often don't get the support we need when it comes to mental health.
- If this policy can provide us with better resources, it would be greatly appreciated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Small Business Owner (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Owning a business can be very stressful, especially with finances.
- If there were guidelines that help me manage stress better, I'd welcome them.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Marketing Specialist (Miami, Florida)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A lot of my stress is due to lack of work-life balance.
- I'd like to see real changes in our workplace with this policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I sometimes wonder how my career would have been different with better stress management support.
- It's good to know future generations might have more resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
University Professor (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have resources, but I see many of my colleagues struggling with stress.
- This policy could make universities more proactive in addressing mental health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $26000000 (Low: $21000000, High: $31000000)
Year 3: $27000000 (Low: $22000000, High: $32000000)
Year 5: $30000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $35000000)
Year 10: $35000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $40000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Accurate measurement of workplace stress uniformly across different sectors may be challenging, affecting the program's findings and applications.
- The collaboration between public and private sectors may be necessary to create comprehensive and effective mental health solutions.
- Potential resistance from industries that may face higher compliance costs or scrutiny due to revealed workplace stress contributors.