Industry Research: Why Mental Health Programs Are The Top Workplace Perk
How to start prioritizing mental health at work
Posted on 09-28-2021, Read Time: Min
Share:
What perks do you think your employees want?
In 2019, common answers might be unlimited snacks and beautiful office views. Suddenly, those things don’t matter anymore, and employees don’t care about them. Employers are now forced to focus on what is truly important and what actually makes a difference for employees.
Ping pong, unlimited time off (but not too much), beer on tap… these “benefits” are all a mirage. They don’t really help employees work better or live better. They don’t add to the employee experience. They aren’t the cool thing to do anymore. And they don’t help your company stand out to top talent.
Stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout are through the roof. 1 in 3 adults has reported symptoms of anxiety and depression – the most common mental illnesses – during the pandemic.
The result? Massive drops in productivity. Poor work performance. Trouble getting along with coworkers. Trouble focusing. Unhappiness. Burnout. The list goes on and on.
Mental disorders are the number one health-related economic cost, at $16 trillion every year… at least.
Mental health and wellbeing benefits are what employees actually want and need.
Still not convinced mental health is a problem for your team? (Check out the blog post: 6 Signs Your Employees are Struggling with Mental Health.)
It isn’t just about gym memberships anymore. Employees want direct access to resources that will help them with their mental health, like therapy and guided meditation.
Many Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer these services. However, not all EAPs are created equal.
53% of employers are providing emotional and mental health programs to their employees. And this is just the beginning.
Instead of trendy perks like beer fridges, employees want benefits that add back to their time and reduce their stress so they can work and live better.
For instance, an overwhelming 87% of people want to work remotely at least one day per week, even if they have the choice to go back into the office.
Why?
People want to spend more time with their families and spend less time commuting. Employees want access to therapy, but barriers to care prevent people from getting it, like lack of therapist availability.
The effects of mental health in the workplace are too numerous to ignore. And employees are demanding support.
But it isn’t just about providing workplace benefits – it is about building a culture that prioritizes mental health.
1. Start talking about mental health
Be open about your mental health and what you do to take care of yourself. Ask employees how they are truly doing. When you speak up about your own experiences, employees will feel more comfortable talking about their own.
Here is a guide to talking about mental health at work.
2. Have meditation or yoga times with your employees
Mindfulness is excellent at reducing stress and increasing productivity. Even just 5 minutes of meditation or yoga time can make a big difference in your day.
3. Encourage employees to take breaks (long and short!)
Set the example by turning off notifications when you are done with work for the day. Give employees incentives to take time off, like giving people a bonus for taking time off.
Check out this guide to taking breaks at work.
4. Take a mental health day
Create a company-specific holiday where all employees are required to take the day off entirely from work. The next day, have a team meeting and talk about what you did to take care of yourselves.
5. Provide employees mental health resources
Share some of these blog posts with them:
For a deep dive into how to start prioritizing mental health in your workplace, check out the Nivati Manager Training Handbook.
Here are the 8 generally accepted core dimensions of wellness and how your company can help employees nurture each of them.
1. Occupational
This dimension is fulfilled when someone is working in a way that brings satisfaction. A person’s occupation is a best fit when it is aligned with that person’s goals, values, personality, and talents.
As an employer, you can help fulfill this need by hiring for a proper best fit and placing employees in areas where they can optimally use their unique personalities, talents, and skills.
2. Physical
Physical wellness is all about taking care of the body. You can help employees by providing access to fitness classes, yoga classes, and nutrition classes through an EAP like Nivati. You can also encourage employees to take time during the workday for a walk or run.
3. Emotional
This area of wellness is about respecting others’ feelings and healthily managing emotions. You can do this by setting an example for your employees. Create an environment where it is okay to express feelings – we are all human, after all!
Providing employee counseling is a superb way to address emotional wellness. All of us need to have someone to confide in with our feelings.
You can also help foster good feelings by showing genuine interest in others, their passions, and how they are genuinely doing. Give your employees the recognition they deserve! Even if it is just sending a message letting you know you appreciate them, those small things can go a long way.
4. Social
The social dimension of wellness is about building great, loving relationships with others and being a part of a group.
A simple thing you can do to help the social dimension is to have the video on during Zoom calls. We all want to see some smiling faces!
You can address multiple areas of wellness at once by having a yoga session with your team during your company-wide meeting.
5. Intellectual
Many companies are now requiring a certification day for their employees to focus solely on intellectual wellness.
You can have employees brush up on the digital tools your company uses. Or encourage employees to take courses in their work function.
You can also have a team book club or cooking class for fun!
6. Spiritual
This looks different for everyone. It helps to provide opportunities for employees to reflect through meditation or journaling.
7. Financial
Treat your employees well. Provide financial courses like Dave Ramsey’s. And start providing those workplace wellness benefits!
8. Environmental
The environmental area of wellness is all about reconnecting with nature. At Nivati, we’ll fly out members of our team meet to go hiking, biking, and even mountain climbing!
Learn more about how connecting with nature can improve employee mental health.
Try implementing just a couple of these ideas and see how wellbeing at your company improves! It all ties back to how we talk about mental health at work. Start sharing your journey with your coworkers - it will help you and your team heal together.
In 2019, common answers might be unlimited snacks and beautiful office views. Suddenly, those things don’t matter anymore, and employees don’t care about them. Employers are now forced to focus on what is truly important and what actually makes a difference for employees.
Ping pong, unlimited time off (but not too much), beer on tap… these “benefits” are all a mirage. They don’t really help employees work better or live better. They don’t add to the employee experience. They aren’t the cool thing to do anymore. And they don’t help your company stand out to top talent.
How Workforce Mental Health Has Suffered
The events of the past couple of years have been detrimental for 78% of the global workforce.Stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout are through the roof. 1 in 3 adults has reported symptoms of anxiety and depression – the most common mental illnesses – during the pandemic.
The result? Massive drops in productivity. Poor work performance. Trouble getting along with coworkers. Trouble focusing. Unhappiness. Burnout. The list goes on and on.
Mental disorders are the number one health-related economic cost, at $16 trillion every year… at least.
Mental health and wellbeing benefits are what employees actually want and need.
Still not convinced mental health is a problem for your team? (Check out the blog post: 6 Signs Your Employees are Struggling with Mental Health.)
What Are Mental Health Benefits, Anyway?
Employee mental health benefits include options that reduce stress, increase mindfulness and help employees grow. Some of the best benefits we’ve seen include:- Employee counseling
- Life and career coaching
- Meditation sessions
- Financial advising
- Flexible work options
It isn’t just about gym memberships anymore. Employees want direct access to resources that will help them with their mental health, like therapy and guided meditation.
Many Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer these services. However, not all EAPs are created equal.
53% of employers are providing emotional and mental health programs to their employees. And this is just the beginning.
Do Employees Really Want Mental Health Benefits?
Yes – especially Millennials and Gen Zers.Instead of trendy perks like beer fridges, employees want benefits that add back to their time and reduce their stress so they can work and live better.
For instance, an overwhelming 87% of people want to work remotely at least one day per week, even if they have the choice to go back into the office.
Why?
People want to spend more time with their families and spend less time commuting. Employees want access to therapy, but barriers to care prevent people from getting it, like lack of therapist availability.
The effects of mental health in the workplace are too numerous to ignore. And employees are demanding support.
But it isn’t just about providing workplace benefits – it is about building a culture that prioritizes mental health.
How to Put Mental Health First
Here are some ways you can promote wellbeing at your company today.1. Start talking about mental health
Be open about your mental health and what you do to take care of yourself. Ask employees how they are truly doing. When you speak up about your own experiences, employees will feel more comfortable talking about their own.
Here is a guide to talking about mental health at work.
2. Have meditation or yoga times with your employees
Mindfulness is excellent at reducing stress and increasing productivity. Even just 5 minutes of meditation or yoga time can make a big difference in your day.
3. Encourage employees to take breaks (long and short!)
Set the example by turning off notifications when you are done with work for the day. Give employees incentives to take time off, like giving people a bonus for taking time off.
Check out this guide to taking breaks at work.
4. Take a mental health day
Create a company-specific holiday where all employees are required to take the day off entirely from work. The next day, have a team meeting and talk about what you did to take care of yourselves.
5. Provide employees mental health resources
Share some of these blog posts with them:
- 9 Problem-Based Coping Techniques to Help Your Mental Health
- How to Prioritize Self-Care and Your Mental Health
- Stress Management Tools and Techniques
For a deep dive into how to start prioritizing mental health in your workplace, check out the Nivati Manager Training Handbook.
How to Support the Areas of Wellness
Many areas play into our overall wellbeing. It is vital to address each area of wellness as an employer so employees can live happier and healthier lives.Here are the 8 generally accepted core dimensions of wellness and how your company can help employees nurture each of them.
1. Occupational
This dimension is fulfilled when someone is working in a way that brings satisfaction. A person’s occupation is a best fit when it is aligned with that person’s goals, values, personality, and talents.
As an employer, you can help fulfill this need by hiring for a proper best fit and placing employees in areas where they can optimally use their unique personalities, talents, and skills.
2. Physical
Physical wellness is all about taking care of the body. You can help employees by providing access to fitness classes, yoga classes, and nutrition classes through an EAP like Nivati. You can also encourage employees to take time during the workday for a walk or run.
3. Emotional
This area of wellness is about respecting others’ feelings and healthily managing emotions. You can do this by setting an example for your employees. Create an environment where it is okay to express feelings – we are all human, after all!
Providing employee counseling is a superb way to address emotional wellness. All of us need to have someone to confide in with our feelings.
You can also help foster good feelings by showing genuine interest in others, their passions, and how they are genuinely doing. Give your employees the recognition they deserve! Even if it is just sending a message letting you know you appreciate them, those small things can go a long way.
4. Social
The social dimension of wellness is about building great, loving relationships with others and being a part of a group.
A simple thing you can do to help the social dimension is to have the video on during Zoom calls. We all want to see some smiling faces!
You can address multiple areas of wellness at once by having a yoga session with your team during your company-wide meeting.
5. Intellectual
Many companies are now requiring a certification day for their employees to focus solely on intellectual wellness.
You can have employees brush up on the digital tools your company uses. Or encourage employees to take courses in their work function.
You can also have a team book club or cooking class for fun!
6. Spiritual
This looks different for everyone. It helps to provide opportunities for employees to reflect through meditation or journaling.
7. Financial
Treat your employees well. Provide financial courses like Dave Ramsey’s. And start providing those workplace wellness benefits!
8. Environmental
The environmental area of wellness is all about reconnecting with nature. At Nivati, we’ll fly out members of our team meet to go hiking, biking, and even mountain climbing!
Learn more about how connecting with nature can improve employee mental health.
Try implementing just a couple of these ideas and see how wellbeing at your company improves! It all ties back to how we talk about mental health at work. Start sharing your journey with your coworkers - it will help you and your team heal together.
Author Bio
 |
Haeli Harris, LMFT, is the Lead Counselor at Nivati. She has been practicing as a Marriage and Family Therapist since 2014. Haeli has experience working as a therapist in private practice settings, residential facilities, outpatient treatment care, schools, and telehealth. Visit https://nivati.com/ Connect Haeli Harris Follow @Nivati_Co |
Error: No such template "/CustomCode/topleader/category"!
