If you want to run a successful company in 2021, you need to be focusing on the wellbeing and mental health of your employees. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused massive disruption to how people work, with social isolation, remote working, and technostress being just a few of the new factors that could harm your employees’ mental health. If you fail to address this in your organization, you’ll likely see a drop in productivity, morale and even talent retention.
One of the most important steps you can take as an employer is to talk about mental health. This year’s Mental Health Week hosted by the Canadian Mental Health Association focuses on just that with their #GetReal campaign. They’re pushing for people to start “naming, expressing and dealing with our emotions—even when they’re uncomfortable” in an effort to destigmatize the discussion around mental health.
In this article, we’ll walk you through some of the common effects of stress and poor mental health in the workplace, possible solutions, and the top employee mental health initiatives. What better way to kick off Canada’s Mental Health Week 2021 at your company? Let’s get to it!
What is burnout?
Burnout is one of the most common types of work-related mental health problems, and it’s become a massive problem during the COVID-19 pandemic. As many Canadians shifted to working from home, employers may be unaware that their employees are experiencing burnout at a higher rate than ever. It’s usually caused by a combination of stress, a heavy workload, a toxic work environment, lack of professional or personal support, and a poor work-life balance.
Here are some common signs of burnout that your employees might be feeling:
- Chronic headaches
- Chronic stomach or bowel problems
- Neglect of personal needs
- Desire to "drop out" of society
- Desire to move away from work or friends/family
- Development of an escapist mentality
- Feeling empty inside
- Obsession over problems at work or in life
- Pessimistic outlook on work and life
- Self-doubt
- Social isolation
- Chronic tiredness
As you can see, some of these symptoms are very serious and if left untreated, could lead to long-term health issues. As an employer, it’s your responsibility to help your employees overcome these symptoms and build a healthier work-life balance where they can manage job-related stress more effectively. This in turn benefits your organization by improving results and building a better reputation among potential candidates in the future. Read on to discover some of our top-recommended ways to do this!
Burnout and the health benefits of vacation time
Burnout is a serious problem and taking some time off might be one of the most effective ways of dealing with it. A recent survey from Aetna International reveals that employees around the world are so much in need of some time off work, that over 35% lie to their employer about their reasons for taking a sick day so that they can deal with their mental health. The same survey shows that a lack of time off is one of the driving factors in damaging employee mental health and wellbeing.
Giving your employees the chance to step away from work and recharge their batteries may be one of the most effective and compassionate ways to help them decrease burnout and other work-related mental health issues. To clarify, we’re not saying that you should encourage your employees to jump on a plane to another country in the middle of a pandemic. However, some time off to relax, spend time with family, or enjoy the outdoors could make a world of difference for your employees’ mental health.
How to support your employees’ mental health
Offering vacation time isn’t the only way to tackle burnout and improve mental health at your company. We’ve rounded up the top 4 most effective ways you can boost happiness, encourage recovery time, build resilience, and make your employees feel valued and cared for.
Include mental health support in healthcare benefits
Mental health is just as important as physical health. That’s why developing an employee mental health program that includes support from a therapist is key if you want to take your employees’ wellbeing seriously. Even if your employees are working remotely, most therapists offer virtual consultations, making this a great way of tackling burnout and stress in your organization.
Encourage regular breaks
Your employees may have blurred the lines between their work life and personal life while working from home. This often results in people working too much, not taking regular breaks, and becoming highly stressed. To deal with this, encourage your employees to take regular breaks throughout the day, just like they would if they were still working at the office. This means taking a few minutes away from their computer to prepare a cup of coffee, going for a short 10-minute walk to stretch their legs, respecting their lunch break, and logging off at the end of the day.
Let people be social
For many people, their coworkers are an important part of their social lives, and the pandemic has left them feeling socially isolated. By giving your employees the chance to socialize, you’ll be taking an effective step in the direction of creating a mentally healthier workplace. Do this by encouraging managers to host team coffee breaks and informal virtual brunch calls where team members can bond and chat as they would at the office.
Assess employee workloads
Heavy workloads and unrealistic deadlines are usually at the root of employee burnout and stress. Carrying out assessments to detect which employees are dealing with heavy workloads helps you redistribute responsibilities and identify short-staffed departments. Doing this regularly not only makes it easier for you to support your employees’ mental health, but it also helps you keep an eye on the daily obstacles and challenges that your company faces. To make this approach even more powerful, get feedback from all of your employees every quarter about issues that are important to them and your organization.
The bottom line
Your employees are important, and their mental health is important, too. By encouraging positive mental health practices in your organization, not only will you help your employees lead better lives, but you’ll also benefit your business. Healthy and happy employees are more productive, more innovative, and they tell everybody about their amazing employer. Sounds like a win-win for everyone involved!