Creating a Mental Health Haven: How Companies Can Support Employee Well-Being

In today's demanding work environment, mental health is crucial to job satisfaction and employee retention.

The American Psychological Association reports that 81% of workers consider an employer's mental health support a significant factor in job considerations.

The question is what does genuine mental health support look like? What steps can companies take to ensure they aren't just checking a box? First, let's take a look back at history...

The Evolution of Workplace Mental Health

We all know that the year 2020 changed our world in many ways. Pushing mental health to the forefront was one result of the pandemic. With that, we faced the coming challenges, such as the Great Resignation of 2021, quiet quitting in 2022, and the financial stress in 2023.

These revolutionary stamps in history have forever changed the way employers look at employee mental health. Before 2020, workplace mental health was mainly focused on pre-existing conditions and how to disassociate it from work. Today, a job's impact on everyone's mental health is recognized.

As we approach 2024, the question is: How do we make our companies a source of mental health support instead of burnout?

Creating a supportive culture is essential.

Recent statistics are showing the impact of mental health in the following ways;

• Burnout: 59% of workers experience burnout, a 7% increase since 2021.
• Absenteeism: Stressed employees are 63% more likely to take a sick day.
• Performance & Engagement: These employees are 13% less confident in their performance and 50% less likely to discuss goals with managers.
• Turnover: They are 2.6x more likely to leave their jobs.

So, how are you creating a supportive company culture?

While good benefits are crucial, they must be supported by a culture that genuinely prioritizes mental health. Here are a few ways you can create a culture that supports mental health;

• Extra PTO & Mental Health Days: Offer additional PTO and company-wide mental health days. We recently heard of an organization offering it's employees 2 "Sun Days" a year! This benefit allowed employees to take a full day off on days they just wanted to be outside or engage in activities that got them outside to enjoy the weather... how cool is that?
• Mental Health Training: Provide training to help employees and managers recognize and address mental health issues.
• Flexible Work Options: Hybrid/remote jobs are proven to reduce stress and burnout. If you can't offer something like this, consider offering flexible hours where you can.
• Self-Care Apps & Counseling: Consider providing access to self-care apps and counseling benefits.
• Additional Benefits: The list goes on here, one of our favorite perks at ApplicantPro is paid housekeeping! Who wants to work all day and come home and clean their house? Not me. Another perk we love at ApplicantPro is contributing money to our employees' godonde.com travel accounts!

Promote your mental health benefits to stand out in the job market!

Differentiation is key in today's job market. Companies that highlight their mental health commitment have a better chance of attracting top talent and fostering a more engaged workforce.

Here are just a few ideas to make you stand out in the job market;

• Career Site & Job Ads: Showcase mental health benefits on these platforms and include a "why you should apply" section emphasizing mental health.

• Company Reviews: Ensure your Indeed Company Page and other review sites reflect your mental health initiatives.

As we move into 2024, prioritizing mental health in the workplace is essential. Companies can improve employee well-being and enhance productivity and retention by creating a supportive culture, offering meaningful benefits, and providing necessary resources and training.

Let's set a new standard for supportive mental health in the workplace.