More often than not, workplace culture is associated with productivity, competitiveness, anxiety over deadlines, and other aspects that often add to the pressure and stress of employees. Especially with the ongoing global pandemic, in such uncertain times, the mental health of employees is of greater concern than ever before. Fortunately, in recent times, there has been greater awareness of the importance of trying to maintain good mental health of employees within companies. Cultivating the mental health of employees will not only ensure that employees remain in good health, but also are able to remain motivated and productive, which will in turn benefit the business.

The Need for Concern

In recent times, more companies have seemed to recognize the importance of managing the stress level of employees. According to a report by Wellable on 2021 Employee Wellness Industry Trends, in the United States, 88% of companies are investing more on mental health. There has been a trend for companies to register their employees for wellness courses.

Courses like MBSR training have been increasing in popularity, with the intention of helping employees learn how to practice mindfulness and manage their stress.

In our capitalist society today, stress and high productivity is expected. This brings into question why mental health has suddenly become an issue of importance today. Firstly, from a broader perspective, there has been a rise in the awareness of mental health. Rather than being viewed as a stigma, mental health issues are increasingly accepted as a common problem in the lives of many that can no longer be ignored. The American Psychiatric Association released a report that showed that in 2019 that 37% of Gen Z, which refers to those born between 1997 and 2015, have received therapy treatment, compared to 35% of Millenials and 26% of Gen X. These statistics show that the younger generation seems to be more aware of the necessity of reaching out for help regarding their mental health.

There are many factors of work that may affect the mental health of employees, such as high job demands, inflexible working hours, and more. Stress is also often an unavoidable factor in a workplace as employees are expected to produce good results. The pandemic has also contributed to job insecurity, resulting in workers experiencing a greater decline as it can increase anxiety, worry, depression and reduce interest. A World Economic Forum-Ipsos survey found that 56% of workers around the world experience increased anxiety over job insecurity.

Negative mental health caused by the workplace may also have physical implications, such as substance use and alcohol addiction, which will further affect their quality of life. It is important for companies to recognize that it is also their responsibility in ensuring the good health of their employees by providing a safe and healthy working space.

More Can Be Done

As mentioned, mindfulness and meditation courses have seen a rise in popularity. The movement of using mindfulness to promote employee wellness and productivity began in startups in Silicon Valley. It has now been implemented in companies and even government bodies in the United States, including Intel, General Mills, and the US House of Representatives. Even top-executives Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Google Cofounder Sergey Brin practice meditation and encourage their employees to follow suit. Companies have also offered access to wellness applications. Tech company UiPath provided free access to the meditation application Headspace, which usually costs $70 for individual subscriptions.

Learning to practice mindfulness and meditation is a useful skill for employees and can help them when they experience stress and anxiety in future. However, it is not always a catch-all solution. Companies need to make changes and implement new ways to manage the stress of their employees rather than having the employees fend for themselves.

Companies should identify the root of the problems that contribute to the poor mental health of employees. Some ways to do this include instituting proactive policies ensuring flexible hours and limiting or completely removing overtime work as it encourages unhealthy working schedules for employees. Regular assessments can be conducted to evaluate whether employees have a good work-life balance and if the job load is adequate. It has been found that excessive workload is the cause for about 46% of employee stress. These assessments would allow companies to receive feedback and for

It has also been advised that companies seek to provide an environment where it is safe to talk about mental health. Unfortunately, mental health is still considered as a stigma to some, and employees might be unwilling to disclose their mental health concerns for the fear that they might be badly looked upon by their employer or even lose their job. Larger companies can provide on-site mental health services so that employees can seek help whenever necessary. Offering mental health days where employees can take sick leaves for their mental health will reflect the importance of mental health and may allow employees to feel that their difficulties are recognized.

A Win-Win Situation

Ensuring that employees maintain good mental health has a positive effect on businesses. When employees are in a good condition mentally, they will be able to perform better. Good mental health can improve attitude, thinking, decision-making, work output and relationships at work. Employees may have a greater interest in their job and feel motivated towards facing new challenges and producing good results, allowing the company to exhibit better performance.

A mentally healthy workplace can also reduce absenteeism. A healthy mind can result in a healthy body as well as people will feel less weighed down by their stress and anxiety. Good mental health can help employees better cope with work and be less negatively affected by their mental health. They will be able to show up at work with a good frame of mind. Companies may experience greater productivity and efficiency as a result, which will also be able to boost business.

Supporting the staff will also make them feel a sense of belonging to the company. Market research firm TNS conducted a study and found that mentally healthy workplaces make employees more committed to their job and less likely to seek alternative employment. The sense of belonging to a company may allow them to develop loyalty to the company, and in turn, this will ensure better staff retention such that the company will continue to have a good workforce.

Mental health is a challenging issue to fix, especially with the hard times that many are experiencing now. But at the very least, companies can seek to create a healthy work environment to reduce unnecessary stressors, which will be able to benefit both their employees and business.