Adults spend many of their waking hours at work, and while some workplaces can be incredibly rewarding and allow people to put their skills, gifts, and talents to use, others can be stressful and challenging. That’s why it’s crucial to create a workplace culture that prioritizes the health and wellbeing of each employee – not just physical, but mentally as well.
Why?
Employees who have high levels of stress or anxiety often miss more work or show less commitment when they are on the job. This could slow productivity, cause problems for other teammates, or ultimately impact the company’s bottom line.
So, how do you foster a positive work environment and make mental health a priority?
Train managers or other leaders that culture starts from the top.
Leadership needs to be aligned with company goals that prioritize the health of employees. Provide supervisor and manager training in employee wellness and mental health, so they know how to support employees and can help recognize the signs of stress or mental health problems.
Encourage a healthy work-life balance.
Work is a large part of life, but it’s not the overarching thing. Remember that outside of work, your employees have families, hobbies, activities, passions, and struggles. They are whole people with complex lives. So, encourage them to balance their work and life responsibilities well. Some ways you can do that is by providing generous paid time off, offering a flexible work schedule, or providing health care that offers mental health resources.
Provide mental health resources.
Benefits that promote the whole body – mind, body, and soul – are key. Provide health care packages that cover psychological services. Consider offering a ‘mental health day’ once a month or once a quarter that allows them a paid day off to rest or reenergize how they want. Or think about offering paid monthly or weekly counseling sessions with an outside therapist or counselor that encourages employees to talk about what they’re going through and get help with it, if needed. Keep in mind, when you’re offering mental health resources, they should address the needs of a whole workforce. They should be well-rounded enough to meet the needs of a large group of different employees.
Listen to what your employees need.
Employees feel valued when they have a voice. Whether it’s with organizational decisions, ideas they have for creating a positive culture, or feedback on current or future policies or benefits, when leaders listen to what their employees need or want, it cultivates trust and loyalty. So, when you ask for feedback, be willing to listen to what it is. If you do, you’re communicating support and empathy – and that goes a long way in creating a strong culture.
Burnt out employees are less engaged and mentally exhausted. So, encourage them to take their paid time off, create spaces for them to share their ideas, and tell them that you appreciate them. Show your employees that they belong, that their whole selves are valued, and that they are seen. This boosts employee morale and contributes to better mental health – and that’s a win not just for them, but for the company, too.