Workplace Wellness and Medical Bills
Hello everyone,
Mental and physical health support in the workplace, and the cost of healthcare round out this week’s topics.
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Submitted by Noah
According to Harvard Medical School, half of the world’s population will experience a mental health disorder. This widespread mental health crisis is more relevant than ever in the workforce, as more than 80% of workers reported last year that workplace stress adversely affects their mental health. To combat mental health woes in the workplace, Harvard Business Review outlined key strategies for organizations designed to improve employees’ mental health in the workplace.
First, HBR suggests not relying on outsiders to drive inter-organizational behavioral change. Companies often rely on outside experts or consultants, or silo responsibilities to HR departments—without engaging other “internal champions” to assist in driving this change. Organizations that wish to cultivate mentally-healthy work cultures need to lean on respected, successful insiders and managers who’re willing to speak up and take the lead in promoting employees’ mental health. Next, fostering conversations across generations and genders will increase mental health literacy across the organization. Younger and older employees alike want to talk about their feelings, and men want to share their emotions at work but feel more stigma to do so than women do. By providing safe spaces for all parties to share and connect, this will help in alleviating workers’ mental health burden.
Finally, it’s critical for organizational leaders to “walk the talk.” Leaders need to connect with their employees to learn how their own emotions color their work lives. Further, when leaders share about their own struggles/what they’re doing to preserve their mental health, this works wonders in destigmatizing mental health conversations. Ultimately, the impetus is on organizational leaders to lay the foundation for a healthy work culture where employees feel that their personal mental health is prioritized.
Submitted by Michele
1.5 million women have vanished from the labor force since February 2020, and 83% of women with children age 0-5 said that child care benefits would be a very important factor in deciding whether to stay at their current employer or switch employers.
Path Forward leads Mothers Monday, a celebration of moms in the workforce that takes place annually on the Monday following Mother’s Day. This year, Path Forward developed the Mothers Monday toolkit, including a comprehensive list of ways companies can actively work toward creating change for working mothers and their families.?
These changes, including providing work flexibility, redefining sick time and PTO, and providing breastfeeding support, have proven beneficial not only to caregivers, but to the companies implementing these changes as well. Employee loss costs companies up to a third of the employee's annual salary, and addressing these caregiving needs can increase employee retention.
As May marks Global Employee Health and Wellness Month, the Mother’s Monday toolkit can provide guidance on adapting workplaces to be more caregiver-friendly to benefit both employees and employers.
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Submitted by Chris M.
Employees are singing the praises of a four-day workweek in the first county in Washington state to implement such a schedule. Most people employed by the county now work 32-hour weeks for 40 hours of pay with the expectation that the same amount of work gets done. Sheriff’s deputies and emergency services are exempt. County officials say they’re seeing less sick time used, positions left vacant for years are being filled and taxpayers have saved about $1 million through benefits and cost of living adjustments – all without a decrease in productivity. A recent employee survey found 78% felt the change had a positive impact on their mental health, 71% reported feeling better rested and 67% had increased job satisfaction. Despite the positive signs, the county isn’t declaring victory over the 40-hour workweek just yet. They’re going to reassess in October and then a year after that before coming to their final conclusion.
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Vida Health, a leading virtual cardiometabolic clinic is excited to announce a new collaboration with OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels, one of the world’s premier beach resort companies. This alliance aims to enrich OUTRIGGER’s employee benefits program by integrating Vida Health’s personalized diabetes management solutions, tailored specifically to meet the unique needs of each of OUTRIGGER’s employees living with diabetes. Eligible employees will have access to Vida Health’s Chronic Pathway, a tailored program designed to provide individualized care and support for diabetes management. The program centers around personalized Vida care plans, which address the unique health needs and goals of each participant, ensuring that every aspect of their diabetes care is coordinated and effective.
Participants in the program will benefit from a wide range of services aimed at optimizing their health outcomes:
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Submitted by Pete
Hundreds of young adults will be trained to help their peers access mental health care and other supports in a first-of-its-kind service program aimed at addressing the?youth mental health crisis. Young people ages 18 and up will spend about a year working at a school or nonprofit to help connect other young people to mental health support.?
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Dr. Glaucomflecken uses a semi-viral tweet to bring perspective to how people are affected by medical bills. Worth a read.
And in another perspective on the cost of healthcare, The Washington Post looks the effects of the ACA and finds that maybe the cost curve is bending after all.
May 16, 2024 | 6.18