PENNSYLVANIA — Fear of losing a job, income, or future opportunity is pushing many Pennsylvania workers to power through serious mental health and substance use struggles, a choice that has quietly cost employees across the Commonwealth more than $44.6 billion over the past five years, according to a new nationwide survey.
The study, conducted by RenaissanceRecovery.com and based on responses from 3,002 employees, found that confusion over federal protections and deep-rooted stigma around mental health are driving workers to suffer in silence — often at a steep personal and financial cost.
In Pennsylvania, workers dealing with mental health or substance use challenges lost an average of $10,854 in income over five years, the survey found. Collectively, those losses added up to $44,593,720,114 statewide, reflecting reduced hours, missed work, disrupted employment, or delayed treatment.
Nationally, the picture is even more stark. Forty-one percent of respondents said a mental health or substance use issue affected their ability to work. Among that group, income losses averaged 16 percent, totaling nearly $11,000 per person over five years and more than $1.15 trillion nationwide.
The findings point to a widespread lack of awareness about workers’ rights. Fewer than half of respondents, 46 percent, knew that federal law allows eligible employees to take job-protected leave for mental health or substance use treatment. Only 38 percent said they were very familiar with the Family and Medical Leave Act, while 27 percent had heard of it but did not understand the details, and 16 percent had never heard of it at all.
Under the FMLA, eligible workers can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for serious health conditions, including mental health and substance use treatment. Some employees may also be able to replace part of their income through short-term disability policies or state-paid family and medical leave programs. The survey found that uncertainty about how these protections work often discourages workers from seeking help.
Misconceptions about what qualifies for protected leave were widespread. Respondents overwhelmingly identified physical illness or injury and surgery as valid reasons for medical leave, but only 15 percent believed mental health treatment qualified, and just 3 percent recognized substance use treatment as protected. Nearly 8 percent said they did not believe any of the listed reasons qualified at all.
Despite the prevalence of mental health struggles, many workers said fear — not choice — kept them on the job. Among those who continued working through a mental health or substance use issue, 22 percent cited fear of job loss, 18 percent said they did not know leave was an option, and 15 percent said they could not afford unpaid time off. Others worried about harming their career or felt their condition was not serious enough to justify leave.
Financial anxiety dominated those concerns. Thirty-four percent said losing income was their biggest fear about taking leave, followed by fear of being fired or laid off at 18 percent. Many also worried about being treated differently afterward or being viewed as unreliable.
As a result, honesty in the workplace remains elusive. More than 56 percent of respondents said they had lied or downplayed the real reason they needed time off. Forty-three percent said a physical illness would feel like the safest explanation if they needed mental health leave tomorrow, while an equal share said they would claim a family emergency.
The cost of “pushing through” was significant. Among workers who stayed on the job despite struggling, 31 percent reported increased anxiety or stress, 27 percent experienced exhaustion or burnout, and others cited declining physical health, more mistakes, and missed deadlines. Nearly 61 percent said continuing to work instead of taking leave made their condition worse, and 42 percent reported long-term career consequences such as stalled advancement, turning down opportunities, or leaving a job entirely. On average, respondents estimated they lost $10,457 in income due to delayed treatment or ongoing struggles.
Workplace culture appeared sharply divided. While 51 percent said workers are encouraged to prioritize mental health, nearly 49 percent said employees are still expected to cope quietly and keep working. More than half believed someone at their workplace is more likely to be punished than supported for taking leave.
“What this data shows is that many workers aren’t just struggling with their mental health — they’re struggling with uncertainty, fear, and misinformation,” said Alina Nejadian, clinical director of RenaissanceRecovery.com. She said clearer communication about rights, stronger workplace support, and better understanding of existing protections could help prevent workers from delaying care and worsening their conditions.
The survey suggests that without broader awareness and cultural change, the hidden costs of silence will continue to mount — for workers, employers, and the economy alike.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.