Employer Coalition Announces Mental-Health Leave and Support Benefits
Coalition of 150 Major U.S. Employers Mandates Minimum 10 Days Paid Mental Health Leave Plus Digital Support Services
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 25, 2025 — The National Employer Mental Health Alliance (NEMHA), a newly formed coalition of 150 major U.S. employers covering 2.3 million workers, announced today a groundbreaking initiative to establish standardized paid mental health leave and comprehensive support benefits across member organizations. The unified policy framework responds to a 300 percent surge in mental health leave requests since pre-pandemic levels, affecting workforce stability and productivity across industries.
Mental health-related leave has emerged as a critical workplace challenge, with new data showing the share of workers taking mental health leave has tripled compared to 2019 levels. According to a September 2025 CNBC analysis of 6 million workers, these claims include both unpaid federal leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act and employer-provided accommodations. “The findings underscore why employers must address root causes driving increased mental health leaves and offer adequate behavioral health programs,” the report concluded, noting that workers with access to employer-provided mental health services return to work six days faster on average.
The NEMHA framework mandates a minimum of 10 days paid mental health leave annually, separate from traditional sick time, for all full-time employees. Members must also provide expanded digital mental health resources, increased covered therapy sessions through employee assistance programs, and manager training to identify and support struggling team members. The initiative requires 24/7 access to crisis counseling and at least six covered mental health sessions per year at no employee cost. More than 75 percent of large employers already plan to offer digital resources for mental health resiliency by 2026, according to recent Mercer data cited in the CNBC report.
Research demonstrates clear business returns for these investments. Workers who utilize employer behavioral health supports return from leave six days sooner across all categories, including mental health, surgery, and maternity-related absences. Additionally, a May 2025 Society for Human Resource Management study found that every 10 additional days of paid leave correlates with a 29 percent decrease in depression rates among employees. “The data is unequivocal,” said Dr. Sarah Chen, NEMHA’s executive director and former chief medical officer at a Fortune 100 company. “Organizations that proactively build mental health into their benefits architecture see measurable improvements in retention, productivity, and overall healthcare cost containment.”
Implementation begins January 1, 2026, with full compliance required by July 1, 2026. The coalition developed the standards in consultation with the Disability Management Employer Coalition and aligned requirements with existing FMLA and Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. Member companies represent healthcare, technology, manufacturing, and financial services sectors, collectively managing $47 billion in annual healthcare spending. The alliance will publish quarterly anonymized data on utilization rates, outcomes, and best practices to continuously refine the framework.
“The workplace has become the frontline for America’s mental health crisis,” said Michael Torres, CEO of SigmaTech Industries and NEMHA founding member. “This isn’t philanthropy—it’s a strategic imperative. When we provide clear pathways for employees to address mental health challenges without financial or professional penalty, we strengthen our organizations from the inside out.”
The coalition estimates the standardized benefits will reduce turnover costs by up to 18 percent and decrease overall disability claims by 12 percent within the first 18 months of implementation.
About the National Employer Mental Health Alliance
The National Employer Mental Health Alliance (NEMHA) is a consortium of leading U.S. employers committed to advancing evidence-based mental health policies in the workplace. Formed in 2025, NEMHA develops standardized benefit frameworks, conducts longitudinal research on workplace mental health outcomes, and advocates for policy reforms that support both employees and business interests. Member organizations employ more than 2.3 million workers across diverse industries and collectively invest over $400 million annually in employee mental health and well-being programs.
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