Would you allow smoking in your office in 2023?

Would you let your employees smoke in the office? That sounds like a ridiculous question, right? Of course, you wouldn’t! But you may be allowing behavior that is equally as harmful today without even realizing it.?

Let’s take a trip back in time to the 1960s when smoking was rampant. It was common for people to smoke in most places such as at work, in a restaurant, on a bus, or even in a hospital. Today, we know the negative effects of smoking on the human body. We know this because the US Surgeon General told us. A report published by the US Surgeon General on January 11, 1964, outlining the known negative effects of smoking was the first step toward diminishing the impact of tobacco on the health of the American people.?Now, the US Surgeon General is warning of another health crisis. Toxic workplaces. Workplace Well-Being is on the Surgeon General’s top 5 priorities list to improve public health in America.

As a business leader, it should be on your top 5 list as well.?Recent surveys paint a dark picture of our nation’s workplace landscape:

• 76% of U.S. workers reported at least one symptom of a mental health condition.
• 84% of respondents said their workplace conditions had contributed to at least one mental health challenge.
• 81% of workers reported that they will be looking for workplaces that support mental health in the future.

In other words…

A majority of U.S. workers have experienced struggles with their mental health.

A majority of U.S. workers see their workplace as a contributor, if not cause, for their mental health challenge.

A majority of U.S. workers are looking for a workplace that supports their mental health.

As a business leader, it’s time to ask yourself:

• Does your organization prioritize employee mental health??
• Is it possible people may view your organization as a toxic workplace?

Workers who are struggling with a mental health condition are 27% less productive and are often living in a constant state of ‘fight or flight’. Mental health struggles are one of the leading reasons for turnover, absenteeism, and low performance. In addition to mental health conditions, chronic stress is also linked to a higher risk of developing chronic diseases, costing employers more than half a trillion dollars in lost productivity each year.

It's time for all of us to take action. And here’s how…

The Surgeon General recently published a Framework for Mental Health and Well-Being in the workplace that can help reduce the impact of toxic workplaces and redefines workplaces as engines of well-being. This is the starting point for organizations to reimagine a healthier, safer, and more productive workplace with the voice of the worker and equity at its core. The framework highlights 5 essential workplace characteristics that can be used to guide the conversation around workplace well-being across industries; Protection from Harm, Connection and Community, Work-Life Harmony, Mattering at Work, and Opportunity for Growth.

Take this one step today to start investing in your employee’s health and the well-being of your organization. Help your employees to feel a sense of safety and security by putting mental health literacy in your leadership toolbox through a Mental Health First-Aid Course. At least 20% of employees every year are struggling with a diagnosable mental illness, but less than half are seeking care, and many don’t even know that they are struggling. Imagine how impactful you could be as a leader if you understood mental illness warning signs and took action to support your employees. Your retention rates and bottom line will be grateful you took this course.

The Surgeon General’s Framework is a call to arms for industry leaders to re-examine the impact of the workplace on mental health and well-being. Just like you wouldn’t allow smoking back into the office, will you allow a toxic culture to impact the health and productivity of your organization? The way executives and direct supervisors ACT contribute significantly to whether employees get healthier or worse. Be on the right side of history and take action to prioritize the health of your employees and your organization. Leverage your leadership role to transform your organization into an engine of well-being for a more inclusive, supportive, and productive future. Mental Health matters.