Our general health and happiness can be significantly impacted by our work. While having a job can boost one's self-esteem and status and give them a sense of identity, working in a toxic atmosphere can have the exact opposite impact. Long hours, inadequate staffing, an ever-increasing workload, a hostile environment that encourages bullying and harassment, poor management communication, and a lack of training are examples of typical work-related issues.
Even though most of the world has lifted restrictions during the pandemic, life hasn’t yet been able to get back to what was previously known to be normal. The term “new normal'' continues to be used in these unprecedented times. While our recovery seems to have picked up the pace, a looming recession threatens to undo a lot of meaningful work. This frenzy has led to panic with employees doing all they can to keep their job but nothing to safeguard mental health.
Employees are typically the backbone of any firm, and it is through their continuous efforts many organizations advance. Discover how you can properly support your employees' mental health in the blog - safeguarding mental health in the workplace.
What exactly is workplace mental health?
The World Health Organization defines "employee mental health" as the collective term for people's psychological, social, and emotional well-being at work. The idea aids in defining how a person evaluates their own surroundings, deals with pressures and other circumstances, and ultimately succeeds or fails at work.
According to the WHO, 15% of working-age persons have a mental condition, yet more than 50% of the world's population is currently employed. Without adequate support, mental illnesses and other mental health conditions can have an impact on a person's ability to work successfully, ability to manage absences, and ease of retaining or obtaining employment. Depression and anxiety alone cost the world 12 billion working days annually. Furthermore, despite the fact that employment is crucial for recovery, those with serious mental illnesses are frequently excluded from it. Families, caregivers, coworkers, communities, and society at large can all be impacted by mental health issues. Each year, depression and anxiety cost the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity.
The coronavirus's effects on workers' mental health
Supporting your employees' mental health is vital at all times, but it is especially crucial right now as more employees are dealing with mental health issues like anxiety and despair. Within the first two weeks of the epidemic, depression and anxiety diagnoses among Firefly Health patients increased by three times, according to Caroline Ogilvy, a qualified independent clinical social worker, and behavioral health specialist.
Businesses have been forced to make difficult decisions, including changing their company plans, laying off workers, putting them on furlough, and even shutting down. As a result, employees have had to change while also coping with personal challenges. Many workers are experiencing the psychological repercussions of isolation and confinement because quarantine and work-from-home restrictions are still in place in a number of jurisdictions. According to a new FinanceBuzz survey, almost half of employees say they feel lonely.
Many employees are experiencing these mental health issues for the first time, which could be bad for your team. In terms of performance and productivity, employee mental health is always crucial for both the employee and the employer. As a business owner, it is crucial that you pay attention to the warning signals and provide your staff with the help that they require.
Warning signs employees show to detect mental health depreciation
When a person is struggling with mental illness at work, there are sometimes unnoticeable indications that emerge. They frequently have difficult interpersonal interactions with coworkers, are more prone to miss work, and may be unable to concentrate. Many of them will also decide not to seek help because they are afraid of being judged as weak or incompetent. This prevents them from getting the support they need.
By organizing programs on mental well-being, managers may help employees safeguard their mental wellness by keeping an eye out for symptoms of stress, weariness, or sadness. However, it's crucial to avoid making snap judgments because there can be other factors at work.
What can we do to promote mental health at work?
You have a responsibility as leaders to treat this matter with the same amount of attention that we have given to safety throughout the years. If we don't take proactive steps to promote wellness, according to the World Health Organization, mental illness will overtake physical sickness as the major cause of disability and absence from work by 2030. The moment has come to make the same kind of investment in our people's mental health that we have made over the years in ensuring their safety.
Senior management must make a deliberate intervention in this, and members must fully support it. To convince top leaders to invest in this issue and to prevent or reduce hidden costs, such as the inability to attract, retain, and engage talent, a commercial case, a moral rationale, or both must be made.
Measures you can take to safeguard mental health at your workplace
Educate your team
You as the employer can help foster a welcoming workplace environment. If you haven't already, organize a meeting company-wide to discuss the pandemic and how it has impacted mental health. Train your staff on better self-care, lowering work-related stress, and preventing burnout. Hiring a mental health expert to speak about these subjects and respond to any concerns that staff members might have might be advantageous.
Employing a mental health specialist to give employees sessions describing good mental health promotion practices and warning signals that it might be time to seek professional treatment might encourage workers to take steps to improve their own mental health.
Organize routine check-in meetings.
It's crucial to routinely check in with your employees because mental wellness can swiftly fluctuate. It is also advised that each department manager plan one-on-one meetings with the members of their team following the holding of a company-wide meeting. Here, the manager can go through any additional concerns the worker might have and go over the specifics of the company's mental health benefits. Including a regular discussion of mental health in your check-ins can also help reduce some of the stigma surrounding the subject.
Promote good self-care.
Employees could be reluctant to request time off or to discuss any difficulties they are having. Encourage self-care and set an example for your team members to help them prioritize their mental health. To help your staff mentally recharge, you might want to organize team breaks or offer paid time off for mental wellness days. Give everyone in the company a designated time for a formal meeting. This makes sure that everyone takes a 30-minute break together, both physically and mentally, without going back to accumulating unread emails and Slack messages.
Encourage effective communication.
When several people are working remotely, communication is crucial. Being "out of sight, out of mind" is easy to get into, so having a remote staff makes it much more important to maintain clear regular communication. Clearly and compassionately discuss your company's present rules and available mental health treatment choices with your staff. Know who to direct your employees to if they have questions.
Introduce supporting policies and tools for workplace mental health.
You may provide your staff with a number of resources for mental health help. You want to provide your team with resources including an employee assistance program (EAP), bereavement leave, grief counseling, and a directory of therapists, psychiatrists, and mental health facilities that are a part of your network. Regardless of the resources you provide for employee wellness and mental health, make sure they are updated and uncomplicated to use.
To Conclude
While working can frequently contribute to good mental health, there are a number of workplace variables that might convert this benefit into a liability. Employers should make deliberate efforts to create a friendly workplace that improves the lives of their employees and promotes mental wellness.
According to experts, encouraging mental health at work gives people the ability to integrate professional demands with their personal needs for well-being. It is your duty as leaders to develop the plan and support the surroundings that make that possible.
Chezuba understands the need for having a well-rounded employee engagement program and has designed the best platform for your employees to give back to society in the form of corporate volunteerism. With more nonprofits from across the globe and a myriad of causes and skills to choose from, your employees and organization can benefit largely from Chezuba’s gamified corporate volunteering platform. Book a free demo with Chezuba to learn more.
Explore how corporate volunteering boosts employee engagement and mental health this World Mental Health Day.
November 18, 2022
Safeguarding Mental Health In The Workplace
Employees are typically the backbone of any firm, and a firm's success depends on the well-being of its employees. Discover how you can properly support your employees' mental health.
Our general health and happiness can be significantly impacted by our work. While having a job can boost one's self-esteem and status and give them a sense of identity, working in a toxic atmosphere can have the exact opposite impact. Long hours, inadequate staffing, an ever-increasing workload, a hostile environment that encourages bullying and harassment, poor management communication, and a lack of training are examples of typical work-related issues.
Even though most of the world has lifted restrictions during the pandemic, life hasn’t yet been able to get back to what was previously known to be normal. The term “new normal'' continues to be used in these unprecedented times. While our recovery seems to have picked up the pace, a looming recession threatens to undo a lot of meaningful work. This frenzy has led to panic with employees doing all they can to keep their job but nothing to safeguard mental health.
Employees are typically the backbone of any firm, and it is through their continuous efforts many organizations advance. Discover how you can properly support your employees' mental health in the blog - safeguarding mental health in the workplace.
What exactly is workplace mental health?
The World Health Organization defines "employee mental health" as the collective term for people's psychological, social, and emotional well-being at work. The idea aids in defining how a person evaluates their own surroundings, deals with pressures and other circumstances, and ultimately succeeds or fails at work.
According to the WHO, 15% of working-age persons have a mental condition, yet more than 50% of the world's population is currently employed. Without adequate support, mental illnesses and other mental health conditions can have an impact on a person's ability to work successfully, ability to manage absences, and ease of retaining or obtaining employment. Depression and anxiety alone cost the world 12 billion working days annually. Furthermore, despite the fact that employment is crucial for recovery, those with serious mental illnesses are frequently excluded from it. Families, caregivers, coworkers, communities, and society at large can all be impacted by mental health issues. Each year, depression and anxiety cost the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity.
The coronavirus's effects on workers' mental health
Supporting your employees' mental health is vital at all times, but it is especially crucial right now as more employees are dealing with mental health issues like anxiety and despair. Within the first two weeks of the epidemic, depression and anxiety diagnoses among Firefly Health patients increased by three times, according to Caroline Ogilvy, a qualified independent clinical social worker, and behavioral health specialist.
Businesses have been forced to make difficult decisions, including changing their company plans, laying off workers, putting them on furlough, and even shutting down. As a result, employees have had to change while also coping with personal challenges. Many workers are experiencing the psychological repercussions of isolation and confinement because quarantine and work-from-home restrictions are still in place in a number of jurisdictions. According to a new FinanceBuzz survey, almost half of employees say they feel lonely.
Many employees are experiencing these mental health issues for the first time, which could be bad for your team. In terms of performance and productivity, employee mental health is always crucial for both the employee and the employer. As a business owner, it is crucial that you pay attention to the warning signals and provide your staff with the help that they require.
Warning signs employees show to detect mental health depreciation
When a person is struggling with mental illness at work, there are sometimes unnoticeable indications that emerge. They frequently have difficult interpersonal interactions with coworkers, are more prone to miss work, and may be unable to concentrate. Many of them will also decide not to seek help because they are afraid of being judged as weak or incompetent. This prevents them from getting the support they need.
By organizing programs on mental well-being, managers may help employees safeguard their mental wellness by keeping an eye out for symptoms of stress, weariness, or sadness. However, it's crucial to avoid making snap judgments because there can be other factors at work.
What can we do to promote mental health at work?
You have a responsibility as leaders to treat this matter with the same amount of attention that we have given to safety throughout the years. If we don't take proactive steps to promote wellness, according to the World Health Organization, mental illness will overtake physical sickness as the major cause of disability and absence from work by 2030. The moment has come to make the same kind of investment in our people's mental health that we have made over the years in ensuring their safety.
Senior management must make a deliberate intervention in this, and members must fully support it. To convince top leaders to invest in this issue and to prevent or reduce hidden costs, such as the inability to attract, retain, and engage talent, a commercial case, a moral rationale, or both must be made.
Measures you can take to safeguard mental health at your workplace
Educate your team
You as the employer can help foster a welcoming workplace environment. If you haven't already, organize a meeting company-wide to discuss the pandemic and how it has impacted mental health. Train your staff on better self-care, lowering work-related stress, and preventing burnout. Hiring a mental health expert to speak about these subjects and respond to any concerns that staff members might have might be advantageous.
Employing a mental health specialist to give employees sessions describing good mental health promotion practices and warning signals that it might be time to seek professional treatment might encourage workers to take steps to improve their own mental health.
Organize routine check-in meetings.
It's crucial to routinely check in with your employees because mental wellness can swiftly fluctuate. It is also advised that each department manager plan one-on-one meetings with the members of their team following the holding of a company-wide meeting. Here, the manager can go through any additional concerns the worker might have and go over the specifics of the company's mental health benefits. Including a regular discussion of mental health in your check-ins can also help reduce some of the stigma surrounding the subject.
Promote good self-care.
Employees could be reluctant to request time off or to discuss any difficulties they are having. Encourage self-care and set an example for your team members to help them prioritize their mental health. To help your staff mentally recharge, you might want to organize team breaks or offer paid time off for mental wellness days. Give everyone in the company a designated time for a formal meeting. This makes sure that everyone takes a 30-minute break together, both physically and mentally, without going back to accumulating unread emails and Slack messages.
Encourage effective communication.
When several people are working remotely, communication is crucial. Being "out of sight, out of mind" is easy to get into, so having a remote staff makes it much more important to maintain clear regular communication. Clearly and compassionately discuss your company's present rules and available mental health treatment choices with your staff. Know who to direct your employees to if they have questions.
Introduce supporting policies and tools for workplace mental health.
You may provide your staff with a number of resources for mental health help. You want to provide your team with resources including an employee assistance program (EAP), bereavement leave, grief counseling, and a directory of therapists, psychiatrists, and mental health facilities that are a part of your network. Regardless of the resources you provide for employee wellness and mental health, make sure they are updated and uncomplicated to use.
To Conclude
While working can frequently contribute to good mental health, there are a number of workplace variables that might convert this benefit into a liability. Employers should make deliberate efforts to create a friendly workplace that improves the lives of their employees and promotes mental wellness.
According to experts, encouraging mental health at work gives people the ability to integrate professional demands with their personal needs for well-being. It is your duty as leaders to develop the plan and support the surroundings that make that possible.
Chezuba understands the need for having a well-rounded employee engagement program and has designed the best platform for your employees to give back to society in the form of corporate volunteerism. With more nonprofits from across the globe and a myriad of causes and skills to choose from, your employees and organization can benefit largely from Chezuba’s gamified corporate volunteering platform. Book a free demo with Chezuba to learn more.
Together, we can create a world where no one is denied the chance to gain literacy skills. Let’s stand united in promoting education for all and commit to actions that drive lasting change.
Good corporate citizenship is a must, not a nice one to have. It's a "must-have" if you want your business to stay accountable, successful, and competitive. Employee engagement is boosted by strong corporate citizenship, and when we're all engaged, good things happen.
Employee engagement is a critical factor that directly impacts a company's productivity, retention, and overall success. The statistics we've highlighted not only shed light on the current state of employee engagement but also underscore the pressing need for organizations to prioritize it.
Chezuba can play a crucial role in this journey by providing personalized volunteering opportunities that align with employees' skills and passions, further enhancing their engagement and connection to the company's mission.
Celebrating the 4th of July at work is an excellent way to build team spirit, promote a sense of community, and acknowledge the significance of independence.
Every action, no matter how small, contributes to the larger goal of nature conservation. This World Nature Conservation Day, take a step towards making a difference. Whether through volunteering, adopting sustainable habits, or supporting conservation efforts, your commitment can help protect and preserve our planet for future generations. Together, we can create a more sustainable and thriving world.
Celebrating Nelson Mandela International Day through corporate volunteering is a powerful way to honour Mandela’s legacy and contribute to social change. By engaging in diverse and impactful activities, companies can create meaningful experiences for their employees, strengthen community ties, and make a lasting difference.
Together, we can create a world where no child is robbed of their childhood. Let’s stand united against child labor and commit to actions that drive lasting change.
World Environment Day offers a unique opportunity to make a tangible difference in the fight against environmental degradation. By volunteering, you not only support critical conservation efforts but also gain personal benefits such as new skills, improved well-being, and strengthened community ties.
By building strong internal support, companies can harness the full potential of their CSR programs, creating a better future for their employees, communities, and the planet.
Read the article to learn how empowering employees in corporate volunteering programs fosters a sense of purpose among employees and significantly improves retention rates.
Implementing these strategies can help companies not only achieve their corporate citizenship goals but also create positive social and environmental impacts while driving long-term business success. By embracing responsibility, fostering inclusivity, and collaborating effectively, businesses can contribute meaningfully to societal well-being while enhancing their reputation and competitiveness in the market.
May Day is a day to reflect on the progress made in labor rights, honor workers' contributions, and celebrate unity within organizations. By incorporating these engaging and meaningful activities into your May Day celebrations, you create a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
Engaging employee giving and employee volunteering activities on World Health Day can foster a culture of well-being and employee satisfaction. Read the article to learn more.
By going along with these trends, companies can help make the future more sustainable and become leaders in their fields. As time goes on, it is important to stay committed to business social responsibility and work toward making the world fair and prosperous for everyone.
The emergence of employee volunteering and engagement as prominent trends in CSR reflects a broader shift towards more holistic and inclusive approaches to corporate social responsibility.
Virtual volunteering offers a number of benefits for both volunteers and nonprofits. Read the article to learn more about the future of Nonprofit support in the USA.
Read our in-depth blog post about the significant advantages of Volunteer Time Off (VTO) as a Corporate Social Responsibility tool and how it helps both workers and employers.
In this evolving world of businesses, employee engagement is more important than ever. Read the blog to learn about the evolving trends and its significance in business growth.
Running a company is hard. But it’s not just the business you have to handle, employee satisfaction also matters a lot. The employee giving program can help you with this aspect.
Studies have shown that businesses with strong corporate CSR programs can build deeper connections with employees, customers, and other key stakeholders.
Corporate social responsibility is a form of self-regulation that reflects a company's accountability and commitment to the well-being of society through environmental and social measures. It plays an important role in brand perception, appealing to employees, customers, and investors alike.
This article is designed to help you understand the modern employee and how to create a workplace that is conducive to their personal and professional growth.
This article is about the importance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the volunteer opportunities that are available to people with disabilities.
We address the increasing importance of employee purpose and have also attempted to explain how your leadership team can make adjustments to integrate meaningful work as part of your company culture.
Concept notes are one of the first steps to take when trying to secure funding for your projects. We have listed out what a concept note is, its importance, and tips to draft a great concept note.
10th of October of every year is as World Mental Health Day by the WHO but your employees' mental health matters all year round. We have listed a few changes you can make to your organization to cater to the mental health needs of your employees.
This report provides an analysis of the current state of the global workplace and the impact of the pandemic on productivity and how the term “productivity paranoia” came about.
Here’s a brief overview of what diversity and inclusion are and why it is a must for your organization. This blog will be most resourceful to aid you in creating and maintaining diversity in your workplace.
Companies can aid society, engage remote employees in developing their skills, and even improve brand reputation by fostering a culture of giving through virtual volunteering.
As we go about your daily operations, we are bound to hit few snags. Finding a quick fix to these issues can help in the short run, but the most viable solution is to focus on finding the root problem and address it. Let's learn how using the 5 Whys Tool.
This article is meant to give you an idea of the benefits of corporate social responsibility. It will give you an idea of how to implement it into your business and how to reap the benefits for years to come.
In this article, we discuss why employees are leaving the workplace increasingly to focus on their mental health and a few changes you can make to your workplace to combat this issue.
This article is an introduction to the concept of corporate citizenship and how it relates to business. It explains what it means to be a good corporate citizen and how it can be applied to your business.
By measuring the impact your nonprofit creates, you will be able to provide your donors with transparency and the knowledge of how they are able to help make a difference in the world. Learn how with this article.
This article discusses the need for organizations to bridge the skills gap in today's economy. It discusses the current pandemic and how it has widened the existing skills gap, and how organizations can use the pandemic to their advantage.
This article is meant to give you a better understanding of how volunteering for a nonprofit can be a great way to use your skills to help those in need in your community.
Corporate philanthropy is a great way to get your employees to get more involved in their communities and to help them feel more connected to their work.
This article discusses the benefits of volunteering, and how it can be a transformative experience and a great way to connect with people and interact with new people.
This blog shows you how to keep track of your corporate volunteering program and evaluate its impact. It is essential to keep a record of your program's progress and evaluate it based on the results you get.
In this blog, we will discuss what virtual volunteering is, how it works, the pros of volunteering virtually and how you can become a virtual volunteer.
This article discusses the importance of creating meaningful volunteer opportunities for employees and 6 ways to improve the number of employees who participate in these programs.
This article talks about the importance of a board of directors for nonprofits, the benefits of having a board of directors, and their roles and responsibilities.
This article is about virtual corporate volunteering ideas that can be executed by your organization to engage employees and also support nonprofits and charities.
This article explains how employee purpose is a key factor in a better workforce, and how you can help your employees find it through your CSR strategies.
This article is about the benefits of having a business volunteering program. It is a great way to get your employees involved in the community and to get them to give their hundred percent to their work.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the best practices that can be implemented to create successful international corporate volunteering programs.
This blog has discussed 6 easy steps to organize a successful company volunteer day. By following these steps, you will be able to ensure that your company's volunteer day will be a huge success.
This blog will give you a basic understanding of corporate philanthropy. It is important to understand what corporate philanthropy is and why your company should choose it as a part of your CSR strategy.
This article will discuss the Logframe technique and its application in project planning. It will also discuss the structure of the Logical Framework and its various components.
This article discusses how you can incorporate virtual volunteering into your corporate social responsibility strategy. It shows you how to create a virtual volunteering program that is aligned with your company's values and aligns with your CSR strategy.
This blog gives you an idea of how volunteering can help you advance your career and help you gain valuable work experience, showcase your skills and knowledge, and help you explore new career opportunities.
This article contains some fun ideas to celebrate Earth Day in your workplace. Earth Day is an annual celebration of the environmental movement's accomplishments and a reminder of the significance of long-term ecological sustainability.
This article discusses how technology is making corporate volunteering easier and more accessible for companies to use and incorporate into their CSR programs.
Here's how Chezuba connects you with incredible online volunteers who can help you engage and persuade your stakeholders to take action by creating compelling content.
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