Why businesses should take mental health seriously
Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash
Mental health in the workplace is an important consideration for most businesses these days. Modern employees care about their mental health and expect a compassionate workplace, so businesses need to meet the demons if they want to retain the best talent. But there is also work to be down in breaking down old stigmas and training staff in the right way to support the office.
Employee support
Workplaces have changed drastically in recent times; not only are more employees working from home than ever before, but companies care more about their welfare and health. This is very good news because profit-driven mentalities were creating stress and pressure for employees that was seriously impacting their life quality and health without their knowledge.
These days, employers are likely to invest heavily in quality staff, and this includes health and wellbeing. A modern employee support package is likely to include access to treatments and mental health support to improve life quality and job productivity. In addition, office staff will have a modern and functional space to work in that is open to conversations around mental health.
Better engagement
Most businesses and managers agree that actions and decisions taken at the board level and by managers can affect the mental health of employees, but only a small number of managers are trained to handle mental health situations. With a reduction in mental health stigma and an increase in general awareness and conversations, it’s sensible to take positive action on health.
When a business takes mental health seriously, it means employees can talk to someone who is qualified and interested in their needs. Compassionate workplaces invest in mental health training for managers who can then be sensitive to employees, avoiding a culture of silence. In turn, this supports the bottom line by preventing absences and improving overall performance.
Healthier office
When employees work from home, they have their personal home office set up where they spend most of the day. These home offices are perfectly tailored to the requirements of the employee; they might contain an adjustable chair or desk, plenty of natural light, and some house plants to purify the air and maintain productivity throughout the working day at home.
Conventional office space also needs to maintain a standard that supports mental health and wellbeing. A modern office space should have plenty of suitable furniture; Knightsbridge Mental Health Furniture is the best choice. Mental health furniture is specially designed to create a calm and peaceful environment; consider using it to improve your employee and client experiences.
More creativity
In the past, there were fewer options about when and where you could work; the conventions were fairly fixed; if you worked in an office, that was where you spent your entire day. Nowadays, things are different; employees are given the chance to work in hybrid environments that offer more flexibility and creativity in the workforce. This can be beneficial for everyone.
Allowing employees to have more freedom over their schedule allows them to strike a better work-life balance and contribute more energy and productivity to the company; businesses that don’t have a hybrid option tend to miss out. Taking mental health seriously is crucial to boost productivity and the bottom line and keeping up with the modern conventions of the competition.
Tackling stigma
Mental health is a very common consideration; it can range from mild stress to chronic anxiety and depression. The trouble is there is a stigma around mental health issues that prevents people from opening up about them and getting the help they need. Instead, people tend to continue to work without getting any mental health help or support, which can affect everyone.
Mental health awareness in the workplace is a way of tackling the stigma and supporting employees with the right treatment options. When businesses take mental health seriously, they can transform their employees into happier people and more valuable assets; this has a knock-on effect because it creates a more harmonious and progressive company culture.
Final thoughts
Mental health awareness is on the rise, which is good news for employers and employees. Employers benefit from mental health awareness because the business is more productive and profitable, and employees benefit because they have a healthier environment to work in.
Taking mental health seriously in the workplace means raising awareness and reducing stigma; it also means training your staff, so they are ready to handle mental health situations. It also involves changing your office environment by painting the walls and changing the furniture.