Why should managers prioritize the mental health of their employees? Because mental health in the workplace is a crucial issue that concerns both the workers and the organization, as it can impact employee engagement, retention, and productivity. Therefore, taking proactive measures to improve the mental health of the workforce will lead to the overall success of the organization and employee’s job satisfaction and performance.
How to Improve Mental Health in the Workplace
Here are a few ideas you can implement in your organization to improve and support your employees’ mental health:
Mental Health Initiatives
- Reduce the stigma: the best way to reduce the stigma associated with issues like stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, or trauma is to educate yourself and your staff. Likewise, it is important not to jump to conclusions about an employee’s mental health. Ask direct and specific questions, and be supportive and non-judgmental.
- Provide resources: for example, counselling and programs that give employees tools to cope with mental health issues.
- Review health insurance policies to prioritize employee mental health.
Wellness Programs
- Bring in experts to host seminars on stress management, conflict resolution, and the like, so that employees learn how to face challenges in the workplace.
- Offer free access to wellness, therapy, or meditation apps like Headspace or Calm.
- Offer well-being coaching to improve resilience and boost happiness and productivity, stress management programs, and exercise boot camps.
15% of employees claim to experience mental health issues at work.
Happy employees are 13% more productive.
Mental health issues cost the global economy around $1 trillion annually.
61% of workers say they feel exhausted at the end of most working days
Reported burnout cases have risen from 43% in 2022 to 62% in 2023.
77% of employees feel disengaged at work.
Work/Life Balance
- Ask your employees about how a work/life balance impacts their lives. Together you can explore different possibilities, like flexible work schedules, taking time off, and self-care practices.
- Detect and discourage presenteeism, i.e., working during vacations or when employees are unwell.
- Offer time off after particularly busy periods or challenging projects.
Flexible Work Arrangements
- Encourage your employees to work sensible hours and to avoid working at weekends.
- Train your workforce in and implement time-management and people-management strategies.
- Offer flexible hours and remote work arrangements.
Regular Breaks
- Regular active breaks throughout the day promote relaxation, prevent mental fatigue, and increase productivity.
- Active breaks can be as short as two minutes and include chair squats, chair stretches, walking, and marching in place. Regular micro-breaks can be enough to prevent burnout and improve performance.
- Multi-tasking is detrimental to productivity. Instead, focus on one task at a time while taking regular breaks.
Regular Staff Check-Ins
- Ask your staff about their professional and personal goals, as personal interactions are essential, and actively listen to them.
- Take time to chat informally with your staff, ask if they need support, and what they are working on, and show genuine interest in their answers.
- Regular check-ins help employees to feel heard and appreciated, and part of a community.
Healthy Workplace Practices
- Encourage regular social events to boost your staff’s mental well-being.
- Establish and implement health and safety practices.
- Provide mental health education to managers and supervisors so they can recognize and respond to warning signs and help prevent potential emotional triggers.
- Encourage open and honest communication.
Summing up, looking after the mental wellness of your employees has a material impact on job satisfaction, retention, performance, confidence, working relationships, and productivity. Both your employees and your business will benefit greatly if you implement these strategies.
