In today's fast paced and changing work environment, employee mental health is a growing concern for businesses of all sizes.
Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report found that:
20% of employees worldwide feel lonely daily, particularly remote workers
Employee engagement significantly impacts overall mental health
Managers face higher stress, feelings of anger, and loneliness
Disengaged employees suffer mental health challenges akin to those who are unemployed
Ensuring that your staff has access to proper mental health support not only creates a healthier work environment but also boosts productivity and job satisfaction.
Are employers responsible for employee mental health?
Employers have a duty of care to support the health, safety and wellbeing of their employees, including their mental health. Employers take very different approaches to fulfil this duty of care. One way is offering employee mental health training that helps managers and staff recognise the signs of mental health struggles, encouraging early intervention and preventing small problems from escalating into larger mental health crises.
Beyond any legal obligation, most employers acknowledge, and actively try to address, the pressures that modern life puts on employees, particularly during difficult economic times like the cost of living crisis. Financial stress is known to have a significant impact on mental health, making it essential for companies to address both mental and financial wellbeing in tandem. This is where cost of living employee support and MONEY FIRST AID come in.
How to support employee mental health
There are several ways that businesses can improve employee mental health:
Training for managers: Equip managers with the knowledge and tools to support their teams. Mental health training for managers should include how to recognise signs of stress, anxiety, or burnout. It should also give managers the confidence to have open conversations with employees about their mental wellbeing.
Promoting a supportive work culture: Create an environment where employees feel comfortable discussing their mental health. This can be done through initiatives like mental health days, employee support programmes, and encouraging work life balance.
Providing resources: Offering employee assistance programmes (EAPs), and access to wellbeing programmes can make a real difference. But it’s important not to overlook the impact of financial stress on employee mental health. With money being one of the top causes of stress, offering MONEY FIRST AID training can help employees manage financial pressures, thus supporting their mental health. In addition to traditional mental health resources, consider offering cost of living employee support to help employees navigate financial challenges related to the rising cost of living.
How can managers support employees' mental health?
Managers are often the first point of contact for an employee who may be struggling. To support their staff, managers should:
Be approachable: Make it clear to your team that they can come to you with any concerns
Recognise signs of stress: Changes in behaviour, irritability, absenteeism, or decreased productivity can be signs of mental health struggles
Offer flexibility: Sometimes offering flexible working hours or remote work options can relieve stress for an employee.
Financial wellbeing: Managers should not overlook the impact of financial worries on mental health. Implementing MONEY FIRST AID training and providing cost of living employee support can give employees the tools to help manage their finances, reducing one of the most common stressors in their lives.
How to improve the mental health of employees
Improving employee mental health goes beyond offering basic support. Consider the broader challenges employees face, such as the rising cost of living, which can exacerbate financial worries and negatively affect mental health. Providing specific support in this area, such as financial wellbeing workshops or MONEY FIRST AID training, along with cost of living employee support, can have a significant positive impact on overall wellbeing.
When an organisation takes mental health seriously, it not only supports its employees but also invests in the long term health of the business. Offering a combination of mental health training and financial wellbeing support can give employees valuable support systems to manage the stresses of modern life and improve their productivity and engagement at work.
Conclusion
Addressing employee mental health is not just about offering mental health training - it's about providing holistic support that considers all aspects of an employee's wellbeing, including their financial health. As money is a major cause of stress, combining MONEY FIRST AID training with traditional mental health support programmes and cost of living employee support provides more comprehensive support they need to thrive both mentally and financially.
By taking proactive steps to address both mental and financial wellbeing, employers can promote a healthier, happier workforce.
Comments