In the past few years, reports of negative mental health due to work environments and troubles have nearly tripled. Because of the pandemic, poor mental health, anxiety, depression, and stress have all become prominent in the way that we interact with one another. This is true in almost all situations, but especially true in the workplace.
Mental health is one of the top reasons people leave their job and look for new ones. Although mental health hasn’t always been a priority in the workplace, it is becoming one of the biggest issues for employers and employees everywhere.
There are several factors to consider when dealing with workplace mental health and how it affects employees. Although cooperation and positivity cannot solve all mental health issues, there are a few things that employers and managers can do to make it easier for their employees to work and thrive.
For employees in hospitality and healthcare, that might mean equipping them with a wireless panic button that can be used to alert management if and when they encounter a dangerous situation. This type of solution provides peace of mind and helps workers focus on the task at hand without worrying about their personal safety.
Personal Safety
Of course, personal safety is a huge aspect of mental health. If your employees do not feel physically safe at work or commuting to and from the workplace, their mental state will suffer. However, providing lighted parking lots, personal safety devices, and security guards can help your employees feel safe. Making your building a safe space will help the mental health of all who work inside it.
Communication and Boundaries
Another prominent aspect of workplace mental health lies in healthy communication between workers and employers. Many workers report a toxic workplace environment because of the lack of communication and proper work boundaries between other employees. This makes it harder for people to do their jobs.
Establishing proper work boundaries and communication can be difficult if these things are not a priority in an office. However, management can create effective boundaries to develop healthy work relationships.
- Do not assume that an employee can take on extra work without notice
- Approach employees with empathy instead of distrust
- Openly communicate boundaries and encourage employees to do the same
- Allow employees to take mental health and sick days without questioning their motives
- Stick to rules and be fair with everyone
These are just a few ways that management can make the workplace a fair and healthy place to work. Keeping open communication and clear rules makes it easier for everyone to come forward with issues or set boundaries.
Support
One of the biggest ways a job causes mental health stress is through a lack of direct support and high pressure to perform. People go to work to get the job done, and most want to do a good job. However, when a workplace exerts unwarranted pressure to perform, it can cause anxiety and burnout.
By relieving some pressure and offering active support for mental health, a workplace can alleviate much of the stress usually caused by going to work. Sometimes, employees need a break and some compassion to make all the difference in their performance and dedication.
Job Security
One of the biggest stressors for employment and mental health is job security. If an employee takes a sick day for their mental health, will it affect their next review? Will they be able to keep their job? These questions cause many employees to continue working until they are completely burnt out and cannot continue.
Creating a clear policy for sick days, mental health days, and job security can offer employees peace of mind. With the knowledge that taking care of their mental health won’t cost them their job, many employees will feel free to take an occasional break and come back refreshed and ready to work.
How Does Mental Health Affect a Job?
Mental health affects every area of one’s life, especially a day-to-day job. According to the CDC, a mental health issue can affect job performance, morale, and the ability to complete tasks thoroughly and on time. Mental health issues can also cause anxiety attacks or depressive episodes, which a person cannot control.
Employees with poor mental health might not be able to make it to work every day and their performance might be affected on the days they come into the office. Workplace punishments for mental health issues can worsen the problems and create a vicious cycle of poor performance.
Why Support Is Essential
Ultimately, it is an individual’s responsibility to find help for mental health needs. However, if a non-supportive job worsens their mental health condition, an employee may leave and find a better workplace environment.
Supporting employees and discussing mental health needs is crucial for employers. The days of refusing to discuss mental health in the workplace are gone. Instead, employers should offer their employees support, understanding, and communication.
The biggest reason mental health support is essential is its overall effect on the workplace. When your workplace environment is open and supportive, you will see stronger morale and better workers throughout the company. Just by offering support, a company lessens the chances of being the cause of negative mental health.
However, you should also watch for when your employees are struggling with their mental health. Giving them mental health days and sick days is a great way to retain staff and gain employee trust.
Offering a full array of mental health support will allow employees to have better mental health in every area of their lives. With strong support from work, every employee will have a better chance of adequate help for mental health needs and a lower chance of disproportionate stress from the workplace.
With open communication, strong boundaries, and support from their workplace, employees can feel relief from some of the stress they might have received from work. They can focus on their mental health at home and begin to thrive at their jobs.
