ASSESSING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CORPORATE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS

  • T.A. Subbotina Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University, Veliky Novgorod, Russia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.34680/BENEFICIUM.2026.1(58).91-100

Abstract

The article presents an economic assessment of the implementation of the corporate mental health program using the example of three Russian LLCs of various sizes. The purpose of the study is to quantify the impact of the program on two key channels of economic losses: days of temporary disability (absenteeism) and reduced productivity at work (presenteeism), as well as to assess the monetary equivalence of the detected effects and the return on investment over the horizon of up to three years. Methodologically, the study relies on quasi-experimental design using Difference-in-Differences (DID), propensity score matching (PSM), and fixed-effects panel models to provide causal identification. To translate changes into cash equivalent, the standard cost-benefit model was used: calculating the cost of a working day taking into account overhead costs, estimating the costs associated with absenteeism and presenteeism, and subsequent discounting of flows. The results were checked through scenario analysis and Monte-Carlo simulations to take into account the uncertainty of key parameters. As illustrative initial assumptions are taken: 10 days of sick leave and 4 equivalent days of presenteeism per employee per year, the expected reduction in losses after implementation is 20%, the employer's overhead multiplier is 1.3. Calculations showed annual savings of about 1.85 million rubles for a Moscow LLC with ~ 68 employees, about 0.20 million rubles for a regional IT company (~ 20 employees) and about 6.4 thousand rubles for a micro-enterprise (2 employees). The estimates obtained confirm the managerial value of comprehensive mental health programs for medium and large organizations and indicate the need for piloting followed by quasi-experimental monitoring to clarify the real ROI and minimize methodological risks. Methodological limitations are discussed separately in the work: possible self-reporting when measuring presenteeism, spillovers between units and limited duration of observation, which requires careful interpretation of long-term effects. It is proposed to include additional indicators in subsequent studies - turnover, product quality and customer satisfaction indicators, as well as take into account specific costs for EAP service providers and manager training programs when calculating payback. The study is useful for HR practice and decision-making in Russian companies.

Keywords: corporate mental health program, absence from work, cost-benefit assessment, decreased productivity, staff retention, human capital, economic efficiency, NPV, ROI

Funding: the research had no sponsorship (own resources).

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About the Author

Tatiana A. Subbotina – Cand. Sci. (Economics), Docent; Associate Professor, Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University, Veliky Novgorod, Russia. E-mail: Tatyana.Subbotina@novsu.ru. SPIN РИНЦ 4181-7467. ORCID 0000-0003-3479-9722. ResearcherID F-1187-2019

For citation: Subbotina T.A. Assessing the Economic Impact of Corporate Mental Health Programs // BENEFICIUM. 2026. Vol. 1(58). Pp. 91-100. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.34680/BENEFICIUM.2026.1(58).91-100

Published
2026-03-10
Issue
No 1 (2026)
Section
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT