The Future of Work Trends 2023 - Prioritisation Employee Mental Health & Well-Being
Kris Clelland
Managing Director (APAC) - TALiNT Partners | Executive Talent & HR Events | Founder & Director | Board Advisor | Host & Keynote Speaker
Prioritisation of Employee Mental Health & Well-Being
Mental health and well-being in the workplace have become increasingly important topics for organisations to consider. In a world of mounting pressures, rushing deadlines and an extensive focus on quality, businesses are starting to take into account not just employee productivity but also the psychological and emotional aspects of their workforce. Prioritising employee mental health & well-being has been proven time and time again to have positive effects on company performance.?
With an increasingly competitive global market, businesses are under constant pressure to perform at their best. This can often lead to long hours, tight deadlines, and high levels of stress. While it's important to maintain a high level of productivity, it's also crucial to create a working environment that supports employee mental health and well-being.
There are a number of ways to prioritise employee mental health and well-being; One way is to create a culture of open communication where employees feel comfortable speaking up about any challenges that they are facing. This could involve regular check-ins with managers, as well as anonymous surveys to get feedback on how employees are feeling. It's also important to provide employees with the resources they need to manage their mental health, such as access to counselling services or Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), or by promoting a healthy work-life balance, as this is essential for protecting employee mental health and well-being. As leaders, introducing flexible work arrangements, regular breaks, and encouraging employees to take vacation days when needed all add to the mental well-being of the workforce.
In this episode, we will discuss why employers should consider investing in employee mental health initiatives and how to go about implementing them.
The Importance of Employee Mental Health
As the world of work changes, so too does the need to prioritise employee mental health and well-being. In today's fast-paced, ever-changing business environment, it's more important than ever to take care of your employees' mental health and if businesses do not realise this, they will become victims of burn-out and work fatigue, which in turn will lead to unhappy employees and higher rates of attrition across the business.
In my honest opinion, there are a number of reasons why employee mental health should be a priority for businesses, and here are some that I would put at the top of the list:
Improved Productivity: Mental health services can help to improve employee productivity and performance by reducing stress, increasing engagement, and boosting morale. When employees feel supported and secure in their workplace, they are more likely to be focused and productive, as well as being open to new ideas and willing to take on challenges.
Increased Retention: A supportive workplace environment that promotes mental well-being can lead to greater job satisfaction, resulting in lower attrition rates overall. In this way, employers can save money by avoiding the need to hire or retrain employees regularly.
Reduced Absenteeism: Promoting better mental health can reduce absenteeism due to employees taking time off for mental health related issues, such as anxiety or depression. This is beneficial for both the employee, who has access to necessary resources for improving their quality of life; and for the employer who will experience reduced costs associated with sick leave or other absences from work.
Financial Benefits: Investing in the mental health of employees can provide financial benefits to the business such as reduced healthcare costs, improved productivity and increased profits due to higher output levels amongst staff members. Additionally, governments may issue tax breaks or other incentives for employers that prioritise mental health in the workplace.
Safer Workplace Environment: Poor mental health can lead to accidents at work or other safety issues, so it is important that employers take steps to create a safe working environment where employees feel supported and valued rather than ignored or discriminated against due to their condition(s). This could include providing training programmes on how best support someone with a mental illness, or running awareness campaigns around topics like healthy living habits which benefit both physical and psychological well-being.
Employee Well-being: Ultimately, employers have a responsibility to take care of their staff – both physical and emotional well-being should be included in this care package package of benefits for employees . By investing in initiatives like Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) which offer counselling services , companies can directly contribute towards improving the well-being of its staff without incurring excessive costs .
According to a Gallup study, actively engaged employees are 21% more productive than those who are not engaged. Additionally, the same study found that companies with higher employee engagement scores had 41% less absenteeism and 17% higher productivity.
Separate studies conducted by the 英国华威大学 and the Society for Human Resource Management ( SHRM ) found that happiness led to a 12% spike in productivity among their test subjects, and that nearly three-quarters of respondents believed that employee satisfaction was directly linked to increased productivity. The researchers attributed this increase in productivity to increased creativity and better problem-solving skills among the happier participants.
The Impact of Poor Mental Health in the Workplace
It is now more important than ever for employers to prioritise their employees’ mental health and well-being. Poor mental health can have a significant impact on both individuals and businesses, costing the UK economy an estimated ￡105 billion every year in absenteeism, presenteeism and productivity losses. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, mental illness costs the US economy an estimated $193.2 billion annually in lost earnings. In APAC, according to research from AON, mental illness costs the region an estimated $90 billion annually in lost earnings.
Mental health problems are one of the leading causes of sickness absence, with over 170 million working days lost each year. They are also a major cause of long-term sickness, with one in five people experiencing a mental health problem in any given week.
Poor mental health can have a number of negative consequences for businesses, including increased staff turnover, lower morale and reduced productivity. In fact, research has shown that productive employees are three times more likely to report good mental health than those who are less productive.
Investing in employee mental health and well-being can therefore have a positive impact on both individual employees and businesses as a whole. There are a number of simple steps that employers can take to support their employees’ mental health, such as providing access to confidential counselling services or offering training on how to manage stress effectively. By simply taking action to address employee mental health, businesses can improve both their bottom line and their workplace culture.
领英推荐
Employers' Responsibility to Prioritise Employee Mental Health
Employers have a responsibility to prioritise the mental health and wellbeing of their employees. This includes providing support for employees who are experiencing mental health problems, and creating a working environment that is conducive to good mental health.
There are a number of things employers can do to support employees' mental health and wellbeing. For example, they can provide access to counselling and other support services, offer flexible working arrangements, and promote a healthy work-life balance. They can also create an open and supportive culture where employees feel comfortable discussing their mental health concerns.
When it comes to promoting good mental health in the workplace, employers need to take a proactive approach; This means taking steps to prevent mental health problems from developing in the first place, as well as addressing them when they do occur and embracing that employees are human beings too, and as humans, we often have issues, and simply need a helping hand. By taking these steps, employers can create a workplace that is mentally healthy for all employees.
Why men are so afraid to speak up when it comes to Mental Health and Well-Being
The mental health and well-being of men is an important issue that often gets overlooked. Despite the fact that men are just as likely to suffer from mental illness as women, they are much less likely to seek help, speak up or talk about it to anyone. This could be due to a variety of factors, including social stigma, lack of knowledge, fear of judgement, and so on...I've personally been in this situation, and I didn't even speak to those closest to me when I perhaps, in hindsight, needed them the most!
When it comes to mental health issues, many men feel like they can't voice their concerns or ask for help because of societal expectations for them to be strong and stoic. This has been perpetuated by images in the media portraying men as unemotional or unable to express their feelings in a healthy way. In addition, some men may feel like they need to “tough it out” instead of seeking therapy or other forms of assistance.
For these reasons, it is essential that we continue to create safe spaces for men to open up about their mental health and well-being without fear of judgement or ridicule. Education around mental illness should be provided in all areas where men typically exist - the workplace, schools, healthcare facilities, sports teams - so that everyone can get the help they need when they need it most. Additionally, we must work towards creating a culture in which mental health conversations are normalised and speaking up is seen as a strength rather than a weakness.
The key takeaway here is that it's okay for men to acknowledge their feelings and speak up about their struggles with mental health – doing so can lead to better overall physical and emotional wellness. By encouraging more open dialogue around this sensitive topic and creating an accepting environment where people feel comfortable talking honestly about their experiences with mental illness, we can make real strides towards reducing the stigma associated with male mental health issues.
Ways to Improve Employee Mental Health & Well-Being
There are a number of ways to improve employee mental health and well-being. Some of these include:
Provide access to mental health resources: Employees should have easy access to mental health professionals, including counsellors and therapists. This could be done through an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or by providing employees with a list of local mental health service providers.
Offer flexible work arrangements: Allowing employees to work from home or to have flexible hours can help reduce stress by eliminating the need for a lengthy commute and making personal schedules easier to manage.
Promote healthy lifestyle choices: Employees should be encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. Regular exercise not only helps maintain physical health, but it can also improve mood and reduce stress levels. Employers should provide options for employees such as onsite fitness facilities, nutrition coaching or subsidised gym memberships.
Promote work-life balance: When given the opportunity, many workers will put in extra hours in order to advance their career goals, however this could come at the expense of their mental well-being if they are working excessively without breaks. Employers should give their staff opportunities to take vacations and breaks so they can recharge and come back feeling refreshed and focused on their job tasks.
Create an open atmosphere: Having a positive team culture where everybody feels comfortable speaking up about their worries and concerns can help reduce individual stress levels, because people know they are not alone in dealing with difficult issues at work. Open communication between leaders and employees is key here.
Allow for time off for self-care: Self-care days allow employees to take time away from the office when needed so that they can focus on taking care of themselves mentally, emotionally and even physically if needed. These days off should be encouraged as part of any comprehensive employee wellness program
Conclusion
The prioritisation of employee mental health and well-being is becoming increasingly important in organisations today. Employers need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression, take preventive measures against these issues, provide a supportive environment for their employees, and ensure that they have access to appropriate resources such as counselling or support groups. When employers prioritise the emotional needs of their workforce, it helps to create healthier work environments where individuals can thrive both professionally and personally.
Reference Links:
Business Analytics Manager @ Horsefly - DEI / Workforce Planning / Talent Acquisition / Skill Based Hiring
1 年another great share Kris