One of the greatest things that happened after the emergence of social media and other online platforms is that it gave voice to the most common people.
After the pandemic people started to have more open conversations about topics of mental health.
While people discussed mental health in regard to the prevailing uncertainty and growing health concerns, mental health was also significantly addressed when talking about the work culture and workplace.
The awareness and advocacy regarding mental health managed to open up many workers that had been going through a rough mental health condition. Many people managed to share their experiences and bring the spotlight to the mental health concerns of the employees.
International bodies have also recognized mental health illness as disabling and also a state that can provide disability benefits for people suffering from severe mental illness.
The rising vaccination rates, less uncertain environment, better health conditions, and a stable economy made way for people to learn and debate about the importance of the mental health of employees.
But unfortunately, many employers have yet not provided the right solution for dealing with employees’ mental health conditions.
Instead of providing support for mental illness, many employers have not even recognized the need for them to step up for their employees suffering from mental illness.
According to a study about mental health in the workplace, it was found that the majority of the participants revealed experiencing symptoms of mental health issues in the last year.
The common symptoms of mental illness include lack of interest in activities, depressed mind, fewer interactions with other people, increased absenteeism, irritability, and being in the office for extra-long shifts.
As responsible employers, you need to have a check on your employees that show symptoms of mental illness.
The Coronavirus and Mental Health of Employees
After the coronavirus outbreak, many people have faced the negative cloud energy surrounding them. The constant fear of getting infected and not having the right experience to understand the new lifestyle has managed to put people into a negative bubble.
Similarly, employees that had to work remotely for the first time came across a number of challenges that they were not prepared to deal with.
The minor issues like internet connectivity and unavailability of separate workspace build up anger and frustration in them.
Employers that managed to introduce their employees to Best TV and internet deals. Companies also managed to show employees that their concerns are important to the company.
And now as we are heading towards a much more stable state, it is better to become more concerned about fixing the mental health issues of the employees so that you can bring your staff back in the right shape.
What are the Benefits of Prioritizing Employee’s Mental Health?
Researchers have found that mental illnesses like depression and anxiety can also cause severe medical diseases like arthritis.
Therefore, it is important to create an environment that not only encourages mental well-being but also providers resources that can benefit employees dealing with such illness.
The following are some of the benefits of doing so:
Decrease in Sick Absenteeism
You might be surprised to know that the majority of employees who call in sick are actually too depressed to even get out of their bed.
Sick absenteeism not only causes repercussions like a reduction in the salary of the employees but also causes a negative impact on the working culture.
Therefore to have a disciplined workforce, it is important to encourage people to show up instead of avoiding coming to the office.
And this can only happen if the employers try focusing on the mental health conditions of the employees.
Better Wok Output
We have discussed above that mental illness can be disabling in many ways. Employees struggling with mental health conditions do not find the motivation to work properly. Even the sharpest minds can indulge in this negative bubble and are unable to perform their best.
By prioritizing employees’ mental health employers can fix the working culture and eventually bring back the productive side out.
Healthy Employer-Employee Relations
Last but not least, prioritizing the mental health of employees can also be noted as a source that creates a positive impact on the employer-employee relationship.
Employers that focus on the mental health condition of the employee receive the same empathy and friendliness from their employees.
This relationship encourages friendliness in the environment and reduces toxicity.
Time to Prioritize Mental Health
Reducing the workload, promoting work equality, and encouraging a healthy work environment are some of the factors that can help employers prioritize employee mental health.
