Let’s talk about mental health in the workplace!
Is it possible to have a highly profitable company and psychological well-being for your employees?
Based on the studies of the Relief Research Chair in Mental Health, Self-Management and Work – powered by Beneva, we can suggest some effective strategies for getting the best of both worlds.
Why is mental health in the workplace so important?
In the last decade, the labour market has changed dramatically. Employers struggle to find solutions due to a shortage of labour.
According to the Conseil du patronat du Québec (This hyperlink will open in a new tab) (French only), 94% of companies name recruitment and retention as a significant challenge. They find it difficult to hire new, competent talent to fill the openings they have.
The reasons for this shortage of labour are not solely due to demographics or the after-effects of the pandemic. Finding employees is complex because more than a third of them say they are exhausted due to the stress of work. With a workload that appears insurmountable, work-life balance is harder to achieve.
But how do you stand out from other employers who are faced with the same recruitment challenges? By prioritizing the mental health and well-being of your employees.
What a health culture brings
There are numerous advantages to investing in mental health for both you and your teams. Employees who are mentally healthy are more motivated to work and perform well.
The more your teams are motivated, the more the rate of absenteeism and disability leaves could decrease. It’s a win-win situation not only for employers who have employees taking sick leave for indefinite amounts of time but also for those who are experiencing these mental health issues.
This approach can have an impact on presenteeism as well! Presenteeism is a phenomenon where employees are present at work but are distracted by their physical or psychological health. This affects their productivity and their colleagues and augments the risk of work accidents, among other things.
A health culture is also good for employee retention. Increasing employees’ satisfaction and wellness convinces them to stay longer with your company. By investing in the physical and mental well-being of your teams, you reduce turnover and attract talent.
How do you introduce a health culture in your organization?
To protect your staff, adopt policies on:
- health and wellness
- civility
- prevention of harassment and all forms of violence
To promote physical and mental well-being, senior management must lead the way. They must become health and wellness ambassadors to convince everyone to buy in.
Finally, you must check in with your employees. What good are pointless initiatives? Ask them what their interests, needs and challenges are in order to better promote health and wellness at work.
What are best practices for the workplace?
Find out about workplace health solutions that can establish an environment where the mental wellness of each individual is a priority.
Deepening the understanding of mental health issues
Make your employees aware of mental health issues: stress, work-life balance, harassment, psychological distress, etc.
Having a dialogue on mental health helps remove prejudice and supports people who need help. It also strengthens the sense of solidarity and belonging in your team.
By offering workshops on stress management or training on mental health, you help your staff manage daily challenges and you’re able to recognize early warning signs of mental health problems.
Involve employees
Encouraging employees to participate in health and wellness initiatives is fundamental for creating a positive and dynamic workplace climate. When they’re involved, they feel a greater sense of belonging and are more motivated.
If you give them the opportunity to suggest ideas and actively contribute, you strengthen their engagement. This also ensures that strategies are in line with their needs. In addition, initiatives in which employees can help each other out foster solidarity and team cohesion.
Share the responsibility
It’s important for you to take care of mental health, but it’s also important for your employees to get on board. If it is seen as a shared responsibility, your organization is more likely to achieve its objectives.
Your role is to offer a safe, healthy workplace. But these efforts will be in vain if your employees are not involved in taking care of their mental health.
Every individual needs to practise self-care by adopting healthy lifestyle habits such as doing regular exercise, eating a balanced diet and de-stressing. Protecting one’s wellness involves defining personal limits such as not working overtime and remembering to take breaks.
Target risk factors with prevention
Identify potential sources of stress for your employees such as an excessive workload or lack of communication. Then develop strategies for effective prevention, such as creating a more collaborative and empathetic space.
Transform irritants into opportunities for learning and growth. By adopting this approach, you say goodbye to reaction mode. Instead, you anticipate problems and suggest solutions.
The right resources
Do you provide group benefits to your employees? Great, so now’s the time to take advantage of them! Direct your employees to assistance services that can contribute to their wellness such as employee or manager assistance programs, telemedecine, discounts for physical activity, the health spending account, webinars, training, etc.
Many people are not aware that these services exist. Let them know about the services they are entitled to. Emphasize that all requests for assistance are confidential. Neither you nor the insurer will know the reasons for any consultations.
An essential: Empathy
Empathy is a powerful tool for creating a workplace environment where employees feel heard and supported. By integrating empathy in your company culture, you contribute to improving the mental health of your teams.