Building a Culture of Well-being: A Call to Action for Corporates and employees

It is clear that there is a general concern about Well-being and mental health.

Here's a concise table summarising key worldwide mental health statistics from the last 5 years:

Adults worldwide who say mental health is the biggest health problem facing people in their country —> 36%

Number of people globally with any mental health or substance use disorder (in millions). —> 970 million

Percentage of the global population suffering from depression —> 3.6%

Suicide rates increased between 2000-2018 and declined between 2018-2020, but returned to peak rate in 2021

Perceived importance of mental health compared to physical health worldwide

More important for 36% of respondents

These figures highlight the growing significance of mental health on a global scale. The ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic further underscores the need for continued development in mental health and psychosocial services.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 16/02/2024

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You may wonder, what Corporates and employees has to do here?

First of all here are some very interesting articles for our education :-)

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work

53 workplace mental health statistics you can’t ignore in 2024 (spill.chat)

Mental health at work: statistics | Mental Health Foundation

WHO and ILO call for new measures to tackle mental health issues at work

2023 Work in America Survey: Workplaces as engines of psychological health and well-being (apa.org)

The fact is that we spend a lot of our time in the office and if we make it enjoyable we contribute with the increase of well-being of everyone.

What factors are Impacting Well-Being in the Workplace?

1. Lack of Respect and Toxic Behavior:

- Having a boss, peer, or colleague who lacks respect for others can significantly affect our mental and emotional state. When performance is prioritized over basic human decency, it creates an environment of tension and frustration.

- Passive-aggressive behaviors, unaddressed conflicts, and disrespect erode trust and contribute to stress. Unfortunately, these issues often remain unspoken, becoming an accepted part of the workplace culture.

Example: Accepting meetings and not showing up repeatedly demonstrates a lack of respect for colleagues' time and efforts.

Remember, a positive work environment that values respect, empathy, and well-being benefits everyone—employees, productivity, and organizational success. ??

Action: Having a suggestion box, where people can freely share behaviours that damage the work environment. Making sure there is a committee that look at those cases, and engage with experts to run webinars around that. Educate managers and employees to provide feedback.? ?

2. Work-Life Imbalance:

- In today's fast-paced corporate world, maintaining a healthy work-life balance is challenging. The pressure to be constantly available, meet deadlines, and excel can lead to burnout.

- When work dominates our lives, personal time, hobbies, and relationships suffer. This imbalance affects our overall well-being and quality of life.

Solution: Prioritizing self-care, setting boundaries, (employees) and,

Promoting flexible work arrangements (Corporation) can help restore balance.

3. Lack of Support and Resources:

- Employees often grapple with mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, frustration, and stress. Unfortunately, inadequate support and resources from their superiors can exacerbate these conditions.

- For instance, when an employee is questioned about incomplete work, and their response—explaining their workload—falls on deaf ears or isn't promptly addressed, it adds to their stress.

- Another scenario: encountering roadblocks where critical information is unavailable from another department. When the boss's response is a cursory inquiry followed by a hasty exit, the employee's plea for help remains unanswered—a form of passive-aggressive behavior.

Solution: Encourage employees to persistently raise concerns, escalating if necessary, until their requests for assistance are acknowledged.

Creating a culture of collaboration is a key element. Corporations can make a bigger effort here, if they are really convinced that this are the values and the culture they want… There are companies like the one ran by Simon Sinek's The Optimism Company that do some nice work in that area.

There are other companies that specialise in onboarding, like EngageBox that are passionate about employees experience. You know the anxiety you get when you are in a new Job!

4. Other Workplace Stressors:

- Beyond lack of support, several other factors impact mental health:

- Working Hybrid Conditions: Balancing remote and in-office work can be challenging, affecting well-being.

- Parking Space: Seemingly minor decisions like parking arrangements can accumulate frustration.

- Office Cleanliness: A cluttered or unclean workspace contributes to stress.

- Utility Malfunctions: Persistent issues like malfunctioning utilities add to employees' daily stressors.

- Insufficient Meeting Rooms: Inadequate facilities for cross-country collaboration hinder productivity.

- Delayed IT Solutions: Lingering technical problems, like a malfunctioning laptop, erode morale.

Remember, addressing these seemingly small workplace issues collectively contributes to a healthier, more supportive environment for everyone. ??

Little details that contribute with less frustration and makes the life of employees easier.

4. High-Pressure Work Environment:

Corporate cultures often emphasize productivity, sometimes at the cost of employee well-being. The relentless pursuit of deadlines, coupled with unrealistic expectations and the fear of failure, creates a pressure cooker environment. This stress doesn't just affect mental health—it also takes a toll on physical well-being.

Action:

From employee, try to understand the root cause of the problem and create small solutions that will address the issue. If the solution is not under your control, then make a proposal to your manager. Here your problem solving skills play and important role.

From company perspective: Educating managers to listen to learn and following up on this must to have skill.

It’s not enough to survey employees, and do nothing, is necessary to take actions that address the employees un-satisfaction. To put it in numbers, If less than 90% of employees are not having a good work-life balance, something should be done. Takes time, but efforts will boost productivity, engagement and belonging.

5. Lack of Work-Life Integration:

In our interconnected world, work seeps into personal life. Remote work and flexible schedules blur the boundaries. Emails ping after hours, urgent matters demand attention during family time, and relaxation becomes elusive. The result? Overwhelm and burnout.

Action Be clear that despite you may ping or write someone outside of working hours, it is not necessary to answer.

The Path Forward:

Addressing these challenges requires collaboration. Employers must foster a culture that values mental health. They can invest in education programs, equipping employees with coping strategies. Meanwhile, individuals can set boundaries, prioritize self-care, and seek support.

Remember, a healthy work environment isn't just about profits—it's about thriving individuals and a flourishing organization. Let's build workplaces where well-being is the cornerstone of success. ??

Hope this article makes you think differently and reflect on small, medium and bigger steps to contribute with the wellbeing of everyone!