Improving Workplace Mental Health and Well-being
Following the impacts of the pandemic, the U.S. Surgeon General released a report, Workplace Mental Health & Well-being, that highlights the critical connection between corporate work environments and employee mental health. The report included a call to action for companies to amplify their work in protecting employees from harm and fostering community and connection, all while supporting meaningful work.
Tackling Issues of Workplace Mental Health and Well-being
The World Health Organization indicates that the pandemic created a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression around the world.
Mental health and well-being concerns have heightened during and since the pandemic. It’s also important to note that the impacts of stress, and resulting mental health issues, have a different effect on employees depending on their jobs, their family situations, incomes, and personal characteristics—like race, sex, age, disability, immigration status, etc.
Organizational leaders, managers, and supervisors have an unprecedented opportunity to examine the role of work in their employees’ lives and explore ways to better enable all workers to thrive within the workplace and beyond.
The U.S. Surgeon General’s report points to 5 Essentials for Workplace Mental Health & Well-being. The essentials are centered on the worker voice and equity, recognizing that: “Creating an environment where workers’ voices are supported without fear of job loss or retaliation is a vital component of healthy organizations.”
THE 5 ESSENTIALS
Essential 1: Protecting Employees from Harm
The latest Work and Well-being research from American Psychological Association reveals toxic and abusive workplaces are too common, with 1 out of 5 (18%) employees reporting that their workplaces are somewhat or very toxic. Health and safety concerns in the workplace negatively affect stress levels.
Essential 2: Connection and Community
As humans, we all have an innate need for connections with other humans. The pandemic, of course, created stress and anxiety as people were forced to minimize these connections. Much of the stress around these situations remains. Employees can benefit from a sense of belonging and community in the workplace which employers can help to support.
Essential 3: Work-life Harmony
As employees balance the requirements and demands of their work and personal lives, conflicts can emerge. Work-life balance is important to employees, even more so since the pandemic. Meeting these needs can help organizations minimize stress and anxiety while increasing the likelihood that they will retain staff.
Essential 4: Mattering at Work
This component emphasizes the importance of feeling valued and appreciated in the workplace. Employers can put systems in place beyond pay to recognize the contributions of all employees.
Essential 5: Opportunity for Growth
Employees value the opportunity for personal and professional growth and appreciate companies that can provide it. In fact, LinkedIn research has indicated that these opportunities are the top driver that employees associated with a strong workplace culture.
This article is an excerpt from our latest resource, Guide to Improving Workplace Mental Health and Well-being. The guide provides an overview of research from the Surgeon General, the World Health Organization, and SHRM. Additionally, it provides data on the business impacts of Toxic vs. Healthy work environments as well as action plans employers can implement that focus on preventative measures for protecting employees from harm.