Isolation from working from home to returning to work and all of the familial and personal difficulties that most individuals face is at an all-time high. Allowing people to suffer in silence can harm their well-being and job performance.
Employees want to feel safe in the workplace, and companies must understand that their employees may require additional support. There are several strategies to improve employees’ mental health. It is divided into two categories: Employee Services and Employee Activities.
Employee Services
These are practices that businesses can implement for all of their employees. These programs are confidential and allow employees to access these services on their terms.
- Employee Assistance Program – This external source offers employees resources in all areas of their lives. Referrals to counselors, life coaching, work/life resources, medical advocacy, legal resources, and student aid are all available.
- Change Insurance Benefits – Examine employee insurance coverage and focus on mental health, including counselors, psychiatrists, health and fitness, and massage.
- Give Employees Options– Employees may prefer to work from home or need to start later in the day to accommodate family obligations. The business can establish goals and timelines for employees, but enabling them to choose their environment provides them a bit more comfort
- Employee Surveys – Employers can learn what they are doing correctly, poorly, or simply disregarding by sending quarterly or monthly questionnaires. Surveys can be conducted privately, and gathering information is critical for establishing a well-rounded plan.
Employee Activities
These are ideas for how to get more involved with staff and create a healthy work environment.
- Checking In – Start a conversation with your staff about what is bothering them or going on in their life. Being ready to speak with employees generates a positive shift since they know you are approachable if things aren’t going well.
- Build Moments of Human Connection -Get out of the office and gather at a park for a BBQ, a game of Trivia, or a restaurant. By creating these moments, all employees can feel valued. They get involved, and it’s a significant change in their routine.
- Mandate Vacation Time Usage – Using vacation time within a specific time limit ensures that employees are taking time off for themselves. You could even argue that they need to be disconnected from work to create time for themself.
- Encourage Physical Activity – Have a dedicated space for meditation, create a competition for lunch break exercise or have one-on-one meetings while taking a walk.
At JJR Marketing our leaders do many great things in our digital workplace for the employees. We have weekly team meetings where we give kudos to our teammates for their work that week, the winner receives a gift card for starbuscks! We talk about innovations that may or may not have anything to do with our work but give the team a morale boost. They set up fun, creative challenges for us to inspire and spark creativity. Jackke has even sent care packages when a team member is eeling unwell. Lastly, Jackie and JP have treated the core team to several “paradise” trips to bring the team together, refocus, and find inspirations!
A well-rounded executed plan can make the workplace an enjoyable place to be, creating life long employees committed to one mission.