OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — For some, the COVID-19 pandemic has been an emotional roller coaster, taking a toll on workers of all generations. Research shows there is a critical link between employer-provided mental-health resources and employee loyalty.


What You Need To Know

  • More workers feeling stressed during COVID-19

  • About four in 10 adults report anxiety or depressive disorder symptoms

  • That was up from one in 10 from January through June 2019

  • Experts urge employers to keep open communications lines with workers

Mairim Escalante has her morning routine down pat: Breakfast usually involves a protein shake and a morning chat with her roommate/colleague, Keilah Rios.

Every day, Escalante makes her way to the spot she calls her safe place in St. Cloud, OG Fitness. Not for her own workout but to motivate others to get moving. She’s a personal trainer there. 

Her business is all about one-on-one interaction, which she said has been a challenge during this worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. The millennial has found herself struggling with keeping sane.

“So it can be a little overwhelming to say, ‘Oh my gosh, where am I going to go now?’" she said. "And I think that’s what took so many people by storm. It's just like, ‘Oh my gosh, savings, what do I do? No job. No future … all these things I worked so hard for … kind of just go poof.'”

Escalante said physical movement has been therapeutic for her.

Workers of all ages need some way to relieve stress, data shows. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, about four in 10 adults have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder during the pandemic. This is up from one in 10 adults from January to June in 2019.

Lillianis Cruz is a licensed mental health counselor who runs Hope Counseling of Central Florida. She has gotten an increase in calls from people looking into therapy lately. Out of all age groups, she said Gen Zers are most likely to seek counseling.

“We have to understand that we were people with issues before the pandemic happened, and then you add another stressor to deal with that we thought originally was gonna go away in two weeks, and it's not,” Cruz said. “So you have to peel even more layers.” 

Cruz has also come across more and more COVID-related literature lately, like new research showing mental-health resources at work are linked to employee loyalty.

“[Be] open with your employees about how they're feeling, not just physically, but also emotionally and socially,” Cruz said. “If you treat them as people and as human beings who also struggle with mental health, just as everybody, I do notice that their loyalty and their openness to communicate increases.” 

Escalante said when she’s needed a mental health day or a COVID day, it’s something OG Fitness has helped her with.

“For me, employees are always going to be most appreciative of those employers who are there for them and are backing them up and are supporting them, not just being a boss but being a friend,” Escalante said. “Right now, it's really important.”

Escalante’s work family has also helped keep her going during these times. 

Experts suggest employers keep an open line of communication with their employees. Experts claim connecting them to mental- health resources when available is key.