Three Ways Leaders Can Support Employees’ Mental Well Being

The top priority for any leader should be taking care of their employees. All the ways that we measure business success -- building better products, delivering strong results, attracting and retaining talent -- flow from the well-being of those on our teams. When employees feel safe, secure and supported they are able to bring their whole selves to their jobs and do the best work of their lives. 

Delivering on that priority has been especially important this past year. The pandemic has been a global health emergency unseen in our lifetimes. We’ve also experienced a social justice crisis where we were finally forced to face the inequalities in our country. And we had to try our best to process all of this while adjusting to a radical new way of working with the shift to work-from-home. 

With all these challenges, the need to support the mental health of those we lead has never been more important. This storm of disruption has impacted people in ways big and small, and sometimes in ways we are not aware of. We are all human and none of us are immune to the stress and drain of what we are collectively going through.  

Mental health covers a broad spectrum of challenges. But there are important ways that leaders can play a role in helping their teams manage the levels of stress and burnout that so many are facing. 

• Taking Time Off: Organizations can’t slow down, but individuals can. At Intuit, we have expanded our time off policies and added recharge days as well as supplemental sick days. These are vital resources for people to take the time off they need to rest and recharge. Yet making time off available is one thing. Making sure people take advantage of it is another. As leaders, it’s vital that we strongly encourage and make space for our teams to take the time off. People may be resistant to doing so, fearing either that they will miss out or that they can just will their way through feelings of stress and burnout. The truth is everyone can hit a wall. It’s up to leaders, both at a 1:1 level and at scale, to push people to take the time off they need. 
• Practicing Balance: We are all working from home these days, but that does not mean that we have to always be on. When we surveyed Intuit employees, more than half said they were having difficulty balancing work and family while working from home. The lack of normal boundaries is a challenge. Leaders can help teams find the right balance by setting an example of healthy boundaries. I spend my early mornings planning and getting work done, but I try and end meetings at a reasonable time and I don't respond to emails or do work in the evenings - that time is reserved for me and my family. Setting a clear example of how to draw lines helps others find the right balance. 
• Role Modeling: As leaders, it’s vital that we act as good role models for mental health. It’s one thing to enact the right policies, but if we don’t practice them ourselves, our teams will not follow them. As leaders, we need to practice what we preach. I take regular walks to get out of the house, and I’ve taken regular mini-vacations with my family which I plan out so that I can truly leave work behind. I also protect my evenings so I can spend time with my family doing the things I enjoy.  I then make sure to communicate what I’m doing across the company -- at all hands, in virtual visits to our sites, whenever I can -- in order to let our teams know that rest and balance is a company priority from the top down. 

These are just a few of the ways that leaders can help promote well being. There are many other ways that organizations can and should take active steps to support mental health, from manager training to help them plan so that employees feel enabled to take time to recharge, to benefits that include access to virtual mental health providers. Taking action on mental health creates the foundation for hiring and retaining great talent, delivering better outcomes for customers, and building a strong brand. Ultimately, these are the best investments any of us can make, especially now.