As we come to the end of Mental Health Month

As I reflect on Mental Health Month, which falls each May, I can’t help but think about the remarkable people who show up to work each day. All of us have full, multi-faceted lives, which may include caregiving for loved ones and children, daily movement and wellness rituals, time to read, watch TV, cook, pet our pets, and engage in our personal passions.?

One thing I have found when working for highly mission-oriented, people-first companies is that work is amongst the list of personal passions for most employees. At Transcarent specifically, I’m proud to say that in a recent employee engagement survey, more than 90% of employees expressed both their belief that the work we are doing at the company is important, and that they understand how the work they do, each day, contributes to our mission. This type of engagement often correlates positively to employee retention, performance, and career growth, validating the importance of building a culture that gives people a fulfilling purpose, not just a role and paycheck.?

As an HR leader, there is nothing more important than fostering an engaging workplace – it’s how we achieve our goals and make the impact we set out to make. However, when employees really do care about the work they are doing, without the proper boundaries in place, they can have a tendency to burn out.??

In a remote-first work environment, boundaries are more blurred than ever before. While commute times have been slashed, the separation between a workspace and a home space doesn’t always exist. While many people have the freedom to move anywhere around the country, working across all time zones can make for earlier mornings and later evenings. Without conference rooms and the ability to collaborate just by swiveling your chair, we have entered a territory of notification overload with what seems to be ping after ping after ping through email, various instant message? channels, video calls, and even text – many times, all at once at all hours. And when your employees are so passionate, prioritizing quick response times while balancing meetings and other tasks and projects can be very overwhelming and in-turn sometimes start to break down those healthy boundaries.??

I believe that it's necessary to take a step back when we feel the work and notifications piling up, especially when we start putting aside other important facets of our lives like family, physical health, mental health, and other things that we love or need to feel fulfilled and balanced. As people leaders, it’s important to address psychological safety in the workplace by encouraging team members to show up as their full selves, open lines of communication so folks can feel comfortable expressing when they feel overwhelmed, and by setting an example that logging off is not only allowed but encouraged. Additionally, it’s important that we all are mindful of times that may cause additional grief or sensitivity for employees – that may include the winter holiday season, Mother’s and Father’s Day, times of heightened political and social instability, and more.??

As we close out Mental Health Month and focus on getting ready for the summer, ending the school year, and all sorts of other events - I am calling on employees and leadership teams alike to set boundaries and expectations, check on those around you who are sending a few too many late-night emails, and create a culture that celebrates the dynamic lives of each person. At the end of the day, we are all humans working together to make a difference and live fulfilling, mentally and physically healthy lives. Please join me in recommitting to these practices and share what you are doing to foster mental wellness in your life and the lives of those around you.??

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