Johner T. Wilson III and Scott J. Connolly, Members of the Firm in the Employment, Labor & Workforce Management practice, contributed to the article titled “Workplace Mental Health in the Americas: Employer Duties and Legal Trends,” published by Ius Laboris.
Silvia Figueiredo Araújo, Partner – Brazil, Veirano Advogados; Marcela Salazar, Partner – Chile, Munita & Olavarría; Catalina González, Associate – Chile, Munita & Olavarría; Gabriela Guadarrama García, Associate – Mexico, Basham, Ringe y Correa S.C.; and Juan Pedro Nuñez, Lawyer – Uruguay, also contributed to this article.
Following is an excerpt:
Employers across the Americas are facing rising expectations around workplace mental health. Below, and to mark the World Day for Safety and Health at Work observed earlier this week, we have sought expert insights from five jurisdictions in the region on this topic. We explore how evolving legal frameworks shape employer obligations, the consequences of non‑compliance, and the key enforcement and policy trends.
Mental health at work is now a defined compliance area for employers across several Americas countries. Authorities increasingly expect organisations to actively manage psychosocial risks, support employees with mental health conditions, and demonstrate compliance through clear processes and documentation. Enforcement activity, increasing complaint volumes, and new legislative frameworks reflect this shift.
In this article, our experts provide a practical overview for employers, comparing approaches across five key jurisdictions in the Americas region. The tables that follow summarise the overall landscape, the key legal obligations and consequences of non‑compliance, and highlight disputes activity and emerging trends shaping workplace mental health.
