Employees’ mental health should be considered just as important as physical health since, like physical health, it can significantly impact productivity levels and other corporate parameters.
Why promote employees’ mental health?
Strategically enhancing mental health in the workplace is not only an ethical responsibility, but it can also benefit the company in reducing healthcare costs associated with absenteeism, sick leave due to psychological issues, or overall poor performance. Additionally, taking care of employees’ mental health is a key strategic element in improving talent retention within the company and avoiding excessive turnover rates.
Work-related stress is one of the primary triggers for psychological well-being, which has, in recent years, led companies to increase their investments in comprehensive employee mental health care strategies. Among other objectives, these tools aim to prevent and reduce workplace stress.
As it is proven that a healthy work environment can help prevent symptoms related to stress, anxiety, and depression among team members, employers must provide emotional support and resources early on for their employees, who may be experiencing problems with their psychological well-being. While prevention is an excellent tool for good health, it is also a great tool for business profitability.
The importance of supporting managers
Encouraging work-life balance can help prevent job fatigue and other work-related mental health problems. However, stigma and discrimination related to employee mental health can prevent employees from seeking the support they need.
For this reason, training supervisors in identifying and managing employees’ mental health issues can help ensure that employees receive the support they need. This is where ifeel comes in: services like ours aimed at enhancing workplace well-being, access to mental health counseling, and resources for HR managers can positively impact employees’ mental health and overall productivity.
Improving employees’ mental health
These days, there are many aspects that employers can take into account to improve their employees’ mental health. Here are a few:
- Foster a safe, inclusive, and stigma-free work environment around mental health.
- Provide resources and support for mental health care, such as access to counseling and psychotherapy services.
- Offer flexible work schedules and/or remote work options to help employees balance their work and personal lives.
- Provide training programs for employees and supervisors to improve awareness and understanding of mental health issues.
- Promote healthy habits through wellness programs, such as exercise and a balanced diet.
- Reduce work stressors such as tight deadlines and work overload.
- Establish a culture of support among coworkers, fostering collaboration and teamwork.
- Offer benefit plans that include coverage for mental health care and mental illness prevention.
- Implement paid leave policies for mental illness to allow employees to take time off when necessary.
- Regularly assess and monitor employees’ mental health through surveys, data analyses, and direct feedback to understand and address employee needs.
Employees’ mental health and their work experience
Employees’ mental health significantly impacts their experience at work throughout their “journey” with the company. If the company generates a work environment that fosters well-being, it improves workers’ productivity levels and overall job satisfaction, increasing their commitment and contributing to a good reputation.
Here are some aspects of work experience that are closely related to employees’ mental health:
1. Stress Levels
Employees who experience high stress levels at work may have an increased risk of mental health-related problems such as anxiety and depression.
2. Job satisfaction
Job satisfaction is strongly correlated with psychological well-being. Employees who are satisfied with their jobs feel more engaged in their tasks, more committed to the company, and more likely to act as brand ambassadors.
3. Work culture
A work environment that fosters collaboration among colleagues, open communication between departments, and support with different tasks to achieve shared goals can improve employees’ mental health.
4. Workload
A balanced and well-matched workload to the team member’s capabilities is manageable, does not hinder motivation, prevents overloads, and dampens employee fatigue.
A balanced, manageable workload that is well-matched to the employees’ capabilities prevents overload, decreases employee fatigue, and keeps demotivation at bay.
5. Communication
Open and transparent communication between employees and supervisors can improve employees’ mental health by reducing the uncertainty and anxiety that misunderstandings, bad manners, or unnecessary interruptions of contact can generate.
6. Support from the company
Companies offering quality-of-life care benefits and comprehensive psychological well-being programs can improve employees’ mental health and demonstrate that they value employees’ quality of life.
In short, since employees’ mental health can significantly affect their experience at work, employers must take steps to improve overall well-being in the workplace and, in turn, improve job satisfaction and productivity.
Why have an employee well-being strategy?
The subject of mental health is gaining increasing attention in the workplace. As the notion of mental health being important for productivity and employee engagement with the company is becoming increasingly widespread, many companies are beginning to invest in programs and resources to promote the mental health of their workers.
1. Boosts productivity
There are several reasons why companies should seriously consider investing in their employees’ mental health. As mentioned above, mental health affects employee productivity. Employees who suffer from mental health issues, such as stress, anxiety, or depression, may experience a decrease in their ability to concentrate and perform tasks. This can lead to errors, delays, and reduced work efficiency.
2. Prevents absenteeism
Additionally, mental health problems can increase the rate of absenteeism. Employees experiencing mental health problems may need to take time off to look after themselves or seek treatment. If employees do not have access to sufficient mental health care, they may need to take more time off to recover from mental health problems.
3. Reduces talent drain
Investing in employees’ mental health can also prevent talent drain, preventing employees from leaving the company due to pressing mental/psychological issues that have gone untreated for an extended time or simply from leaving earlier than desired.
Employees who feel valued and supported by their companies are more likely to stay with their jobs in the long run. In addition, companies that offer programs and resources that support employees’ mental health can attract new talent, those looking for a work environment that puts the well-being of their workers at the forefront.
4. Improves corporate culture
Another advantage of investing in employees’ mental health is that it can improve work culture and team cohesion. Employees who work in an environment that places high importance on mental health may feel more comfortable talking about their difficulties or their need to find help at any given time. This can reduce the stigma around mental health and foster a supportive and collaborative atmosphere in the workplace.
We hope you found this post on employees’ mental health interesting. If you would like more information about ifeel’s emotional well-being service for companies, feel free to get in touch, and we will contact your team as soon as possible.
