The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly impacted mental health, as well as physical health and well-being, personal finances, and other aspects of people’s daily lives. As recent problems, such as rising inflation and Russia’s unjust war in Ukraine, give people new reasons to worry, companies and their HR managers need to find new ways to help workers overcome anxiety and stress. According to the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN), American companies should seek to create mentally healthy workplaces with supportive cultures. The main goal is to help workers manage issues such as anxiety and stress, treat mental conditions and substance use disorders, and support their overall happiness and well-being.
Building a mentally healthy workplace means not only providing new resources for workers, but also educating them about mental health issues and substance use disorders and taking effective steps to foster a supportive workplace culture. Employees should be encouraged to seek help when they need it, and to practice compassionate empathy at work. Moreover, HR managers should also make sure that their companies offer the necessary tools and resources to manage stress, and also help workers who are suffering from or may develop mental health conditions. While all workers who are already struggling with mental illness should be provided access to treatment, benefits that can help workers overcome stress may be the best way to prevent these problems.
Creating a Supportive Workplace Culture
Although companies use different strategies when choosing the right benefits for their employees, every company can benefit from building a mentally healthy workplace. Recent studies point to the fact that stress can make workers underperform, especially when it comes to complex cognitive tasks or those that make use of verbal memory. The findings suggest that companies that invest in building supportive workplace cultures and mentally healthy workplaces can actually perform better. One of the best ways to create a supportive workplace culture is undoubtedly by encouraging workers to practice compassionate empathy at work.
Providing Tools to Help Workers Manage Mental Health Conditions
According to EARN, there are already many tools and resources that can help US companies support employees that are struggling with mental health conditions. The US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) provides companies with general background information and sample workplace data, outlining the many resources that have already proven effective in addressing mental health issues. These include flexible workplaces, hybrid work, and flexible scheduling, including flexible use of vacation time, breaks, and other important policies. US companies can now use these resources to help employees who are already struggling with mental issues.
Accessing The Free Tools and Resources Needed to Overcome Stress
Like EARN, other institutions and public health agencies around the world have worked to create free tools and resources to help people overcome anxiety and stress, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of these resources can also be used by HR managers to promote a supportive culture in the workplace and help employees overcome stress at work. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides a free illustrated guide that can help people overcome anxiety and stress by practicing skills that can help them cope with various issues, as well as by learning new self-help techniques.
Providing Access to Coaching, Treatment, and Care
Supporting workers who are struggling with either increased levels of anxiety and stress or mental health issues is a key part of creating a supportive workplace culture. According to EARN, mentoring, coaching, and peer support programs are now an essential part of helping workers overcome stress, but screening for mental health issues and treatment programs are also vital. Companies like Lyra Health, BetterUp, Talkspace, and others can help employers provide the right mental health benefits to their workers, including therapy, coaching, and medication if needed.
Learning from the Best and the Most Successful Companies
According to CNBC, millions of American workers left their jobs in 2020 and 2021, with many of them saying their decisions had been prompted by burnout. Around 89% of those who have either left their companies or plan to do so in the near future also mentioned that they lacked support while they were struggling with burnout, according to a survey cited by the next network. However, the good news is that companies like Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, Union Pacific, American Airlines, and many others have already decided to come up with best practices to support the mental health and well-being of their employees. These resources could also help them boost productivity and improve employee retention.
Helping workers overcome anxiety and stress and managing mental issues and substance use disorders are vital issues for most American companies in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As workers continue to struggle with runaway inflation and a new geopolitical crisis in Europe, new tools and resources are needed to help them reduce stress and prevent mental health issues. The good news is that these resources can also have a positive impact on the companies in question, by providing an increase in productivity and helping them to develop better employee retention strategies.
