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More than half of Filipino workers say mental health challenges negatively affect their productivity, highlighting the growing impact of workplace stress, exhaustion, and financial pressures on business performance, according to the latest TELUS Mental Health Index.
The study by TELUS Health found that 55% of workers reported that their mental health negatively affects their productivity. It also revealed that 48% often end their workday mentally or physically exhausted, while 82% continue working despite being unwell at least one day a week.
The findings point to the need for employers to strengthen workplace mental health programs and provide accessible support systems for employees.
The productivity impact is significant. Workers who frequently experience end-of-day exhaustion record an estimated annual productivity loss of 49.5 working days, compared with 29.7 days among those who do not report exhaustion.
Similarly, employees who work while unwell four or five days a week record estimated annual productivity losses of 64.1 to 71.1 days. This highlights the impact of presenteeism, or reduced productivity while working despite illness.
Financial difficulties are another major contributor to employee stress. Half of respondents identified personal finances as their primary source of personal stress, while 54% said they lacked emergency savings to cover basic needs.
Workers without emergency savings recorded a mental health score of 55.5 out of 100, compared with 69.0 among those with savings. Those who identified financial concerns as their main stressor also recorded an estimated annual productivity loss of 44.6 working days.
Younger employees face additional challenges. Workers under 40 were twice as likely as those over 50 to report constant stress and identify mental health as their main personal stressor. They were also 70% more likely to experience mental or physical exhaustion at the end of the workday.
The study further highlighted concerns about workplace stigma, with 77% of employees saying they would worry about limited career opportunities if their employer knew they had a mental health issue. Another 63% said they would feel negatively about themselves if they experienced a mental health condition.
Access to professional support also remains a challenge. Cost was the most commonly cited barrier, affecting 52% of respondents, while 32% did not know what type of care they needed and 29% did not know where to seek help.
Workplace support gaps were also evident, with only 60% of managers saying they would know what to do if they suspected an employee was experiencing mental health difficulties. Meanwhile, 42% of workers said their managers had not communicated the availability of workplace health and wellbeing programs.
Paula Allen, global leader of research and insights at TELUS Health, emphasized the connection between financial security and employee mental health, noting that the lack of emergency savings can intensify anxiety and affect workforce productivity.
Jamie MacLennan, region head for Asia-Pacific at TELUS Health, also stressed the importance of addressing workplace stigma, training managers, and providing accessible, judgment-free mental health support.
TELUS Health recommends that employers strengthen Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), improve awareness of confidential support services, and train managers to recognize and respond to employee mental health concerns.
The findings are based on an online survey of 2,000 people in the Philippines who are currently employed or have been employed within the past six months. Responses were collected from July 24 to August 5, 2026.
The report underscores how employee wellbeing, financial security, and workplace support are increasingly connected to productivity and business performance.
Personal finances are the leading source of stress for half of Filipino workers surveyed in the TELUS Mental Health Index, highlighting the link between financial security and employee mental wellbeing.
Source: TELUS Health, Philippines Mental Health Index, page 16.
