May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions.
Mental health concerns include depression, grief, anxiety, stress, workaholism, and burnout, and can affect the workplace in a variety of different ways, regardless of whether employees are working onsite or remotely.
Poor employee mental health can lead to:
- Increased absences and costs
- Reduced job performance
- Strained relationships with co-workers
- Increased turnover
- A higher likelihood of workplace accidents
Additionally, where there is poor employee well-being, the organization can face an increased risk of litigation including claims of disability discrimination and workers' compensation.
An employer needs to be aware of and comply with employment laws that might apply when an employee is dealing with mental health challenges. Such laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and other state or local laws. Not just physical health but mental health impairments are covered under the ADA and FMLA.
Managers are central to building a healthy workplace. Strengthen the ability of managers to cultivate well-being among their team by helping them to build a supportive culture and management style (and employers should also be mindful of manager burnout and stress). A manager can respond sensitively to workers' concerns and may recognize when an employee is having more than just a "bad day". A manager can help refer a worker to other sources of help and support. Managers can review and balance workloads within their department, advocate for needed resources, and engage other resources to help struggling employees -- even in the short term. They can monitor jobs that require the employee to be available for calls/emails/texts after regular hours. Managers can also encourage employees to take some vacation time.
Employer-sponsored health care benefits are an important piece of total compensation and may be invaluable to an employee suffering from a mental health issue. An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) helps employees, and often their families, cope with stressful situations and common benefits include assistance with financial issues, alcohol and drug abuse, and child and elder care concerns. EAPs can also provide guidance to managers on how to handle behavioral problems and when the EAP should be recommended to an employee. Providing learning opportunities and professional development to employees can assist with needed skills and job engagement. Many employers also offer paid time off (PTO) to employees and give some sort of flexible work arrangements which are important to mental health as well as a top demand of workers. Employers looking to meet their workers’ expectations follow a modern approach to provide flexibility as they can to each of their employees.
Mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, and burnout, can affect the workplace. Employers can take steps to promote wellbeing while minimizing workplace risk. Encouraging work-life balance, fostering inclusion and communication, and promoting the resources and benefits available to employees are important steps.