Mental Health at Work
Author: Ryan McCarty
The importance of improving company culture and how it impacts each employee's mental health is not something many companies think about.
It's no secret that workplace stress is a real thing. In fact, it's been reported to cause 120,000 deaths in the US each year—and that's not even including the other negative impacts on individuals and the organization like decreased performance and financial losses.
But as an employer, you don't have to let workplace stress get out of hand. You can take steps now to ensure that your employees are working in a safe environment and are supported by their leaders on their mental health journey.
The first step is to make sure you have a leadership culture that supports mental health.
This means actively reinforcing to leaders how critical their role is to care about their team members' well-being and providing them with the training to fulfill that crucial role.
According to the US Department of Labor, employers need to prioritize the following when addressing their employee's mental health:
Be aware and acknowledge that people can carry an emotional load that is unique to their own circumstances.
Identify factors that are making it harder for workers to get their jobs done and determine if adjustments can be made.
Show empathy by ensuring employees that they are not alone, their employer understands the stress they are under, there is no shame in feeling anxious, and asking for help is important.
Provide access to coping and resiliency resources, workplace and leave flexibilities without penalty, or other support networks and services.
As a result of these steps, employers will not prevent their employees from experiencing workplace stressors but will provide them with support and space to cope. Also, it is possible for employers who recognize their impact to increase the positive impact they have on their team members. By fostering a culture of mental health support, employees will feel empowered to seek help when and how they choose on their terms.
