Making Mental Health in the Workplace a Priority

Employers can no longer afford to ignore mental health issues. Studies reveal that almost 450 million people currently suffer from mental health disorders. Also, approximately 25% of the global population will experience mental health issues in their lifetime. Due to the increase in stressors, the situation is getting bleaker. Additionally, the decline in mental health has a stark economic impact. According to the Lancet Commission’s global mental health report, mental illnesses are on the rise and will lead to a global economic loss of $16 trillion by 2030.

The Impact of Covid-19 on Mental Health in the Workplace

In the continuous effort to stay afloat, employers have had to implement harsh measures such as laying-off some of their staff or announcing pay-cuts to help employees keep their jobs. That’s not all. The Limeade institute surveyed 1000 employees last month. 38% of employees reported that they suffered burnout. 59% of those in managerial positions said they struggled with work-life balance.

In another survey by Financebuzz on telework, approximately half of the employees said they felt isolated. According to Principal Financial Group, employers in the US have reported a 44% decline in employee morale. Remember, these are just but a few of the pandemic’s short-term impacts on mental health in the workplace.

This statement is not to say that all is lost. There’s a lot that employers can do to help their employees cope with the ever-increasing work-life challenges.

So, how can employers assist their employees’ mental health?

1. Employers Should Educate Their Staff on Mental Health

As the employer, it is your responsibility to champion issues on mental health. Create time to meet with all employees to address the current pandemic and its impact on mental health. Your staff will likely raise their concerns; therefore, it would be best to hire a mental health expert to highlight the correct work practices and the actions they ought to take to promote their mental wellness.

2. Check-in with the Employees Regularly

With so many organizations working remotely, it’s very difficult for an employer to notice signs of burnout or distress among employees. Therefore, managers and departmental heads should host one-on-one meetings with their team members. It’s a perfect opportunity to check up on them. Remember, loneliness has been a major challenge in America, and now with the stay-at-home orders, the risks become greater.

3. Encourage Employees to Adopt Self-care

The current pandemic has affected each one differently. For some workers, this is the first time they’re struggling with a mental health condition. It could be because of the burden of trying to balance parenthood while working at home. As an employer, you should consider introducing employee self-care days. In the future, you could schedule regular mental breaks where the entire team takes a walk.

4. Modify Employee Policies

Updating work policies to fit the current state of affairs could make a significant difference. Some of the changes to consider include:

• Allowing flexible hours
• Introducing bereavement leave
• Changing the way you undertake performance appraisals

Another essential perk is the employee assistance program (EAP). This program is a company’s way of providing confidential outsourced assistance to all employees on finance, relationship, and mental health matters.

5. Build the Capacity of Employees Through Training

Training staff is another excellent way of promoting mental health in the workplace. As an employer, consider partnering with trusted staffing agencies to offer leadership and mental health training to staff in managerial positions. This investment could contribute significantly to creating a supportive work environment- which will, in turn, increase productivity, reduce turnover, and overall increase sales.

Let PrideStaff Support You in Achieving Your Workplace Goals

As an employer, you need to stay updated on your employees’ needs, such as mental health and other staff-related policies. PrideStaff is an employment agency in Fort Lauderdale that supports employers meet their workplace goals. As a call center and administrative staffing Ft. Lauderdale agency, we have extensive experience in providing staffing solutions. To learn more about our services, call us at (754) 800-2850 today to schedule a no-cost consultation.