Problems relating to mental health in the workplace are increasing geometrically this days. It is obvious that, most workers often spend more of their waking hours at work than they do at home. Just because work is a different environment doesn’t mean we become different people, and some of the biggest stresses in our day to day life can originate at work. Colleagues might be challenging, tight task deadlines, the commute long, or maybe the job is unrewarding but financially imperative. All this notwithstanding is not a guarantee to jorpardize with our mental health status.
A successful organisation depends on employee wellbeing. A research in Britain investigated the relationship between employees’ subjective well-being and workplace performance. They found a clear correlation between the average
level of job satisfaction at the workplace and workplace performance. However, they found zero association between levels of job-related affect and workplace performance.
Organisations and those at the zenith of managing welfare of employees need to take a proactive approach towards wellbeing and mental health in the workplace to ensure that both stakeholders and workers are happy, motivated and productive.
However it’s not about merely being more resilient and expecting employees to know how to be more resilient as individuals. It takes a concerted effort and a joined up strategy, which plays out at all levels of the organisation.
Establishing a mental health, wellbeing and resilience strategy at work can help us to:
- Promotes physical health and general wellbeing.
- Increases productivity.
- Reduces stress and absenteeism.
- Increases job satisfaction.
- Creates better relationships with colleagues and managers.
- Attracts and retains top talent.
- Improves employee focus and performance.
Not only are happy employees more productive, but you’ll also have a lower staff turnover and make your organisation more attractive to the next generation, who often value happiness and job satisfaction more than salary and perceived prestige.
How Organizations can improve wellbeing and mental health in the workplace.
A mental health, wellbeing and resilience strategy will only work when it becomes part of the culture of an organization. The precedent has to be set from the top down. A manager who embodies good self care practices, demonstrates the ethos of an organization, better than any memo or initiative around mental health. Simple actions, such as sticking to healthy working hours, and taking lunch away from one’s desk are the foundations to create a positive environment.
The following initiative will help organizations to achieve this.
Raise the profile of mental health
Having open and honest discussions about mental health removes the stigma of what is usually a hidden issue. Managing mental health in the workplace is something managers and leaders should be trained for, so they can signs in employees who may be struggling, and create effective strategies for helping them.
1. Communicate employee benefits
There’s no point in having support services available to your employees if they aren’t aware of them. These may be access to counselling, free gym membership, or mentoring schemes, health talks. Use all avenues of communication to ensure stakeholders know what’s on offer and how to access them.
2. Offer flexible working practices
Covid-19 has demonstrated that many organizations can adapt and thrive with a home-based workforce. With increasingly complicated lives in the modern world, it’s important to offer flexible working options in order for your staff to remain motivated and engaged.
3. Utilize intrinsic motivation
Performing a task for the enjoyment of it is an intrinsic motivation. A system that employs intrinsic motivation helps employees tap into their personal interests and goals, help to create a happy, productive, and engaged workforce.
4. Create an environment that promotes wellbeing
The University of Exeter in the UK conducted research to show that bringing plants into the office, increased employee wellbeing by up to 47%. Ensure the workplace is clean, comfortable, and has everything your employees need to do their job in a stress free environment. Consider turning unused spaces into chill out or break out rooms. Offer free meditation and wellbeing classes over lunchtimes.
5. Encourage staff to be more active
Most office workers sit for over eight hours a day, which is extremely dangerous for long-term health. Educate your employees about the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle and encourage them to take regular breaks.
6. Promote a healthy lifestyle
Provide free fruit and other healthy eating options, free or discounted gym membership, cycle schemes, free health checks, and access to education on healthy living. Offer classes and workshops on resilience and stress management.
On the other hand, employees are encouraged to adopt the following strategies to improve their mental health and well being in a workplace.
- Look after your physical health
- Eat and drink healthily
- Build your support network
- Learn to be flexible and adaptable
- Give yourself a break
- Make lifestyle changes
- Make time for your friends
- Find balance in your life
- Use relaxation and mindfulness techniques
- Make one step at a time
At Swifttalk Limited, we encourage and adopt modalities that ensures the mental health and well being of our staff, which enables them to improve in productivity.
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