One in five job seekers across Southeast Asia consider mental health benefits non-negotiable when evaluating job opportunities. While external mental health benefits such as Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) and corporate wellness initiatives are important, internal interventions like supportive leadership, flexible work arrangements, and a healthy workplace culture are holding increasingly greater sway over job decisions.
These findings come from “How does workplace wellbeing support impact talent acquisition and retention?”, a six-market study conducted by Intellect and Milieu Insight, which surveyed 6,000 employees across Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Despite increased awareness, employees continue to struggle with wellbeing issues. Nearly half (49%) of respondents reported feeling exhausted, with the Philippines reporting the highest levels of exhaustion (60%).
Mental distance, negativity, and cynicism about work were also prevalent, affecting 36% of employees in the past year.
In spite of negative feelings reported towards work, interestingly, 72% of respondents rated their overall mental health as ‘good’ to ‘very good’. This gap could be explained by individual fears of reprisal or a lack of self-awareness, making it crucial for employers to look beyond surface-level assessments to fully address the underlying causes of stress and disengagement.
The trade-offs of overlooking mental health benefits
Currently, there are more employees using mental health resources than there are employers offering them. Two-thirds of employees used some form of support tool to manage their mental health last year. This shows that there is a real demand for these resources to help employees with their mental health.
However, financial incentives remain a powerful factor, with 65% of employees stating they might still take a job without mental health benefits if the pay increase was substantial enough. On average, employees across the region would require at least a 29% median pay increase to make the switch, with Thailand ranking the highest at 50%.
“Employers in Southeast Asia are starting to make mental health benefits accessible, but an Employee Assistance Programme is not the be-all and end-all,” said Theodoric Chew, Co-Founder and CEO of Intellect.
“These benefits need to be reinforced by strong leadership, supportive policies, and a culture that prioritises wellbeing. Ultimately, a company’s wellbeing strategy is only as strong as the culture and leadership behind it. When businesses foster truly supportive environments, they empower employees to thrive, stay engaged, and reach their full potential.”
Internal support matters more than external perks
Results from the study emphasise that while mental health benefits play an important role, employees value leadership, workplace culture, and direct team support even more. Employees feel most supported by their peers (45%), followed by their direct managers (20%).
This finding should nudge HR teams to focus on workplace interventions that strengthen leadership capabilities and foster psychologically safe environments, rather than relying solely on external benefits.
Kelvin Li, CFO and Co-Founder of Milieu Insight, said, “Workplace culture, leadership, and flexibility now play a critical role in career decisions, and companies that fail to address these areas may struggle with retention and engagement, even if they offer competitive pay.”
The future of workplace wellbeing
The findings of this study underline the need for businesses to bridge the gap between offering mental health benefits and fostering an environment where employees truly feel supported. Companies that prioritise internal changes—through leadership development, cultural shifts, and policy improvements—will be better positioned to attract and retain top talent in an evolving job market.
