Hong Kong equality watchdog issues mental health workplace support guide

Hong Kong’s equality watchdog has launched a guide on supporting employees with mental health conditions in the workplace, recommending measures ranging from adopting flexible work hours to having regular short breaks.

The 30-page guide was issued on Tuesday by the Equal Opportunities Commission, which received 222 complaints of discrimination related to mental health conditions between 2022 and June 30, 2025.

Doris Tsui Ue-ting, head of policy, research, and training with the commission, said most cases involved dismissing an employee after learning about the mental health condition or after a certain number of sick leaves had been taken.

“Our conciliation rate is over 80 per cent, but it doesn’t mean the employers know what to do,” Tsui said, referring to cases that were resolved.

“What we wish to achieve is to bring the principles of inherent requirements and reasonable accommodations to employers, so they can assess [the situation] before taking the next steps.”

Tsui also believed the complaint figures were the tip of the iceberg, as many more were likely to be reluctant to seek help due to stigma.