Regardless of their work setup, many employees commit over 40 hours per week to their roles. With such a substantial investment in their careers, it’s necessary for employers to prioritize mental health and overall employee wellness. Neglecting these aspects can have detrimental consequences for both the organization and its employees, potentially resulting in lasting repercussions. By leveraging HR technology and allocating appropriate resources, workplaces can help improve their employees’ mental health and create an environment that encourages open communication and provides necessary mental health services. This, in turn, helps foster a culture of transparency regarding employee health issues, leading to enhanced retention rates and increased productivity.
It’s important for employers to understand the need for improved employee wellness, how they can cultivate a supportive workplace that prioritizes mental health, and the role of HR tech in addressing workplace misconduct while enhancing employee satisfaction and engagement.
The Urgent Need for Improved Employee Mental Health
The World Health Organization has determined that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a 25% increase in global anxiety and depression, elevating the importance of discussions surrounding mental health. Forbes reports that the pandemic served as a wake-up call for employers, highlighting the importance of prioritizing mental health to maintain employee satisfaction, productivity and reduce turnover rates. Mental disorders have always existed, but they have recently reached a tipping point, manifesting in organizations as increased employee burnout, workplace bullying, turnover, and other symptoms. One in every three American employees reports that their jobs have a negative impact on their mental health, causing anxiety, stress, and depression. Employers should evaluate their current policies, supportive services, and mental health benefits to protect their most valuable employees or face possible consequences later.
How Employers Can Create a Psychologically Safe Workplace
As discussions surrounding employee health remain in the forefront, an increasing number of employees are placing their personal needs ahead of flashy benefits or office perks. In fact, according to an American Psychological Association (APA) survey, over 81% of employees prefer organizations that prioritize mental health and provide a psychologically safe workplace. To foster a happier workplace environment, employers should equip their employees with the tools and actionable tips to manage declining mental health and reduce instances that have been preventable in the past. This can be accomplished through employee assistance programs or apps, offering mental health days, or providing flexible workplace arrangements, among other strategies.
Additionally, by fostering open and honest dialogue, employees will gain confidence in sharing their personal challenges, stressors, and concerns with their employers, boosting performance and well-being.
The Role of HR Tech in Improving Employee Mental Health
Directly benefiting employees, Work Shield’s full-service misconduct solution ensures that every voice is heard and that individuals affected by harassment or discrimination have the right channels to report incidents, all within a safe and compliant incident management platform. Additionally, employers receive real-time updates on investigated incidents that, if not appropriately addressed, can seriously impact employees’ mental health. As a trusted source for efficiently addressing workplace harassment and discrimination, Work Shield’s HR technology plays a significant role in building trust between employers and their employees, with a result of boosting employee satisfaction and wellness.
With the increase of mental health challenges within workplaces, including burnout, bullying, heightened anxiety, and depression, organizations should evaluate their employee populations and consider offering benefits and implementing policies, including flexibility and employee wellness programs. During this time, open dialog and communication by management is a must. Through Work Shield’s third-party misconduct solution, employers can effectively address workplace misconduct, resulting in safer work environments. As a result, this helps improve employee productivity, trust, satisfaction, and overall well-being.
