As a senior manager or employer, you need effective strategies that support employee well-being. Studies show that the mental health and well-being of employees have become an increasing concern. Although equipping workers with the tools to manage daily stress and their mental health costs money, time, and energy, the cost of failing to support employees’ workplace wellness is often far higher.
Stress and Mental Health
Job-related stress is linked to poor mental health. These workplace stressors, including long working hours, poor social support, and unclear management and work roles, are connected to increased risk for various negative mental health outcomes.
Employees with high levels of stress are more likely to miss work or show lower engagement and commitment to the company. This can negatively affect your organization’s bottom line. Even before the pandemic, employee stress levels were high. A 2017 analysis found the estimated cost of job stress nationwide may be as much as $187 billion, with 70% to 90% of those losses resulting from declines in productivity. The pandemic has only worsened the situation.
The debilitating effects of poor mental health go beyond the direct costs of treatment and include even larger indirect costs related to lost productivity. This includes absenteeism and not functioning fully and properly while on the job.
Some mental health symptoms among government employees include:
- Heightened feelings of guilt
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Sadness
- Emotional exhaustion
- Substance abuse
Mental Health Support
It’s often difficult for employers to gauge the mental health needs of their employees due to the stigma that still exists related to mental health conditions. Stigma tends to create mental barriers, barring employees from speaking up or seeking help. Although widely available, mental health services offered by employee assistance programs (EAPs), public sector wellness programs, employee mental health programs, and government employee assistance are often underutilized. The fear of facing discriminatory behavior from coworkers and superiors, social exclusion, and being perceived as lacking in competence are some of the reasons preventing employees with mental health conditions from seeking the help they need. This can negatively impact employee performance, interpersonal relationships, and workplace well-being.
Make sure all employees are aware of all the services available to help them, and encourage all staff including upper management to use them.
Positive and supportive workplace practices can boost employee physical and psychological health, company morale, and your bottom line. Train your managers to promote health and well-being. Managers and supervisors working directly with employees are key to implementing and sustaining your policies and procedures and creating a supportive environment. Reexamine health insurance policies with a focus on employee mental health.
Providing a range of policies, resources, and management training that build a healthy and flexible work culture is fundamental for supporting employee mental health. Even with excellent preventive strategies in place, mental health issues will arise. Employee support and comprehensive health insurance benefits that cover psychological services are essential.
Our products on Civility in the Workplace and Safety at Work help managers create a healthy work environment that prioritizes worker mental health and well-being. To find out more about how you can help your employees, browse our catalog for products on workplace/human resources and health care.