Discover seven effective strategies for promoting employee mental well-being at work, fostering a positive, inclusive environment that sets your company up for success. Dive in to learn more.
Employee well-being affects every aspect of a company. From operational flow to interpersonal communication to final output, if a team member feels off, the entire organisation will feel it, too.
That’s why, when you prioritise the health and wellness of your team members, you not only promote positive employee morale, but you also set your company up for success.
But fostering mental well-being in the workplace isn’t always straightforward. You have a business to run, clients to tend to, and deadlines to complete. How can you stay grounded while also creating space for employees to take care of themselves?
In today’s article, we’re exploring seven essential tips we recommend incorporating to promote a positive workplace where everybody wins.
Provide tools to promote a work-life balance
Give employees tools and options that promote a sense of autonomy and encourage a healthy work-life balance.
Your goal? Set them up with systems that can help them work smarter during work hours and encourage time away from the office.
You can do that by:
- Implementing 4-day workweeks;
- Providing flexible employee schedules;
- Giving employees complete autonomy over their schedules, projects, or work hours;
- Allowing employees to choose project-based work over hourly work;
- Providing hybrid and remote work options;
- Learning how to identify employee burnout signs;
- Comparing teams to understand where workloads can be better balanced;
- Spotting employee burnout risk with workforce analytics software, and;
- Providing access to hybrid or remote work software.
For instance, including software for hybrid work is a practical approach to enhancing mental well-being. This technology allows for more flexible work hours which can prevent burnout and promote a healthy sense of control.
With the help of hybrid work software, employees can effectively manage their work schedules according to their personal needs. Team members can also use hybrid work software to set up automated workflows so they can do their jobs faster and better.
In addition, giving employees access to AI business tools can help them effectively manage repetitive tasks, reduce unnecessary workloads, and prevent work-related stress. With the right AI tools in hand, employees can get more work done in less time, creating an overall less pressured environment.
Give access to mental health support options
Beyond efficient tools, employees also need access to professional mental health support options.
Whether a team member needs to manage an ongoing ailment, treat a new concern, or seek preventative care, it’s vital to equip them with access to free or affordable care.
Here are three areas of mental health support we recommend providing access to:
Mental health education
Knowledge is power. When it comes to mental health, understanding is the key to managing and overcoming challenges.
We can’t overemphasise the importance of providing your employees with the resources they need to learn about mental health.
Educational materials help individuals recognise signs of stress, anxiety, and other mental health conditions in themselves and others. It also breaks down the stigma associated with these topics.
So, how can you facilitate mental health education at your workplace?
- Provide access to online courses and webinars across mental health topics;
- Bring in experts to deliver talks and workshops on work-life balance, and;
- Share a monthly newsletter with tips on managing stress in the workplace.
In promoting mental health education, you’ll foster a workplace culture that recognises the importance of mental well-being, actively supports it, and understands that mental health matters as much as physical health.
Your team will be more resilient, understanding, and better equipped to deal with whatever comes their way. That’s a win for everyone involved.
Online doctors for fast and convenient support
One of the most important methods companies can employ to improve mental well-being in the workplace is by providing access to telehealth services.
When team members need mental health support, they don’t have time to wait — they need fast and convenient options they can turn to right away.
Thankfully, telehealth companies offer services that allow employees to access counselling and psychological support through remote channels, such as video calls or online chats.
But remember, physical health also affects mental well-being.
Consider also providing access to telehealth organisations that can help employees manage their physical health, too. For instance, Form Health provides online support and a dedicated care team (a Board Certified Doctor and Registered Dietitian) to help your employees achieve a healthier lifestyle.
After all, when you look good, you feel good. There’s no doubt about it.
Family counselling and support options
It’s easy to tell someone to leave their personal problems at home. But when an employee is navigating hardship, such as grieving the loss of a loved one, caregiving for a family member, or facing a divorce, you can’t expect them to operate at 100% capacity.
Why? Divorce, while being an emotional ordeal, also comes with its share of practical challenges that can affect an individual’s concentration and productivity at work.
And unfortunately, with global crude divorce rates hovering around 1.8, you’re bound to employ someone navigating this life scenario.
Thankfully, providing access to divorce mediation services can help employees manage the process more smoothly, reducing stress and conflict. But divorce takes a toll on family members as well.
That’s why it’s essential to provide team members with counselling and support options for their families, too. This might include family therapy, play therapy for their children, and family planning support.
Positive well-being at home translates to mental well-being in the workplace.
Host workshops on emotional intelligence
Treating ailments is important, but preventative care is equally as pivotal.
To promote mental well-being, schedule ongoing training classes and workshops that can help employees learn how to build mental fitness and emotional intelligence.
During training, consider focusing on:
- Stress reduction techniques;
- Personal development practices;
- Emotional regulation strategies;
- Building self-confidence;
- Spotting and redirecting limiting beliefs, and;
- Promoting positive self-talk.
Create an inclusive environment
There’s nothing that can sink employee morale faster than an environment that doesn’t feel supportive or inclusive.
When a team member feels undervalued at work, it can cause a domino effect of consequences. Not only does a lack of feeling valued discourage employee confidence, but it can also reduce engagement and quality of work.
Think about it, if your manager never recognised you for your efforts, would you continue showing up as your best self?
That’s why it’s essential to create an environment where everyone feels included and valued.
Here are a few quick tips you can implement to promote a sense of belonging and recognition:
- Invite everyone to participate in projects, meetings, and brainstorming sessions;
- Start an employee recognition programme;
- Give every employee the chance to do work they consider meaningful;
- Congratulate team members for a job well done, and;
- Encourage employees to motivate and recognise each other.
Ask and implement employee feedback
Navigate employee well-being levels by going straight to the source — your employees! In other words, ask your team members for a status on their current health.
What do they think they need to support their mental health? What do they believe could promote a healthy workplace?
Get clear on how they’re currently feeling and the aid they need by sending out polls, surveys, and questionnaires.
But, there’s a caveat here. Never ask for employee feedback if you don’t plan on implementing it. While you may not be able to satisfy every request, you should always make it a priority to give team members what they want, especially if:
- It’s a reasonable ask;
- You can accommodate it, and;
- It can benefit the organisation as a whole.
PS: Want to receive actionable feedback and measure the mood of your team in literally a few minutes? With 6Q, you can choose between weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly surveys.
Prevent employee burnout by offering time off
Provide paid time off and encourage team members to take advantage of it.
Keep this in mind, though.
While you may have peak seasons and slower seasons, never make an employee feel guilty for needing a break, no matter what time of the year it is. To balance workloads, pad your staff with a few extra team members so everyone gets a chance to take time off when they need it.
Be sure to encourage:
- Vacation time or staycations;
- Mental health days / personal days;
- Time for self-care, and;
- Sick time.
All of these things sound simple. But the small details matter for improving well-being in the workplace.
Start an open-door policy
Create a safe space where team members feel welcome to express themselves and are encouraged to bring their concerns to management.
A simple way to do this is by announcing an open-door policy that lets employees know they can bring any complaints, questions, challenges, or suggestions to their supervisors.
Some benefits of having an open-door policy may include:
- Promoting open communication;
- Preventing information silos;
- Establishing trust and meaningful connections between managers and team members;
- Addressing challenges proactively before they turn into significant problems;
- Gauging job satisfaction and workplace perception;
- Promoting a welcoming company culture;
- Helping employees feel seen and understood, and;
- Getting inspired to implement new policies that support employee well-being.
In Summary
And there you have it! Today we covered seven essential tips to improve employee mental well-being in the workplace.
Your next order of business? Meet with your HR team and managers to decide how you’ll be putting these strategies into action. Don’t forget to survey your employees, too!
Then, create an implementation plan. Decide when and how you’ll be utilising these new practices. Finally, be sure to alert all team members so they know when they can start taking advantage of their new mental health support options.
That’s it for now, teams. Here’s to your success!
About the Author
Guillaume Deschamps is a digital marketer focused on handling the outreach strategy at uSERP. Outside of work, he enjoys his expat life in sunny Mexico, reading books, wandering around and catching the latest shows on TV.
