Prioritizing Employee Mental Health Can Boost Business (& Beyond)
There are SO many benefits to fostering the mental health of your staff.
Since the pandemic, workplace wellness has been more of a focus. Steps are now taken – in many businesses, across many industries – to prevent germs, promote health, and prioritize behavioral health. And as Stephanie McRae, Publicis Canada’s head of diversity and inclusion, told Digiday, “[Mental health support is] going to help everyone, and it’s only going to be a win-win.”
Over the years, brands have implemented tips and tricks to help workers de-stress and release tension. Anything is certainly better than nothing, but the root of the issue needs to be addressed. “Giving free yoga lessons or a meditation app subscription is not enough if we can’t really help them with workplace burnout,” said IPG’s global chief talent officer, Renu Hooda, in Digiday, “which is the main cause of workplace mental health issues.”
Factors such as…
-workforce shortages
-switching to working from home and back again
-inflation rates
-world news
-and stress in general
…have contributed to people feeling burned out, and according to Visier, almost 90% of workers have experienced this feeling. Therefore, employers need to go beyond in-office workouts, vacation days, and birthday parties (though these are definitely appreciated:).
To truly prioritize mental health, make sure employees also have:
-a positive work environment – From onboarding and training to how conflict is handled and how organized workflows are, positivity and efficiency are key. On day one, a person will notice flaws, and it’s important that teams are confident in their companies. Over time, this leads to brand loyalty and, in turn, happier and more productive employees.
-a community – In addition, new hires need to know where to go for what and need to have a mentor that can guide them for years to come. It’s vital to bring everyone together regularly…and not just for meetings but for fun activities that strengthen workplace culture and employee morale, too.
-resources – Maps, schedules, passwords, and guidelines are, of course, essential to provide to employees. But take it further: Provide everyone with mental health resources and conduct regular check ins, to gauge feelings and to see where more assistance is needed.
By valuing employees and their overall health, brands are going to see…
-harder workers
-a sense of camaraderie
-confident workers
-less turnover
-satisfied workers
-boosts in business
…and much, much more!
We hope the info above helps in nurturing employee mental health. We hope everyone remembers to breathe in and breathe out. And we hope you turn to Geek Tech Branding for all your custom-printed employee gifts!