Written by Alan Richardson, Head of Expert Advice at LifeSearch
With one in five of us needing to take time off work due to stress in the past year, support for mental health and illness should be a priority for employers across the UK.
When our mental health begins to impinge on personal and work life, it is easy to feel trapped and alone with many not knowing who to turn to. In the UK we work an average of 36.9 hours weekly**, meaning employers can make a major difference to team wellbeing and performance by making mental health a priority given they may well be the first to notice if something should be flagged.
Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 is taking place from the 13th to 19th of May with ‘movement: moving more for our mental health’ as a key theme.
Here, Andrew Parker, Head of People and Culture at LifeSearch, shares his three top tips for how employers can support and help their employees:
- Watch, listen, and spot
In the hybrid age in which we live, it’s become easier than ever to hide behind a screen and spend more time in the comfort of our homes. Although many businesses now flex when and if teams come into the office, with some being completely home based, employers have a responsibility to check in with their employees on a regular basis. This can be as simple as having a virtual meeting bi-weekly, but it can really help employees feel part of the team. Even things like encouraging fun chat channels for upcoming movies or book recommendations can make sure those at home are included in the company culture and that they feel part of a collective rather than drifting on their own.
For those that prefer coming into the office, employers do also need to be mindful of the risks of presenteeism and how detrimental it can be for productivity and absenteeism in the long term. Implementing scheduled check-ins as well as keeping an eye on employees’ work schedule and capacity can be key to helping spot issues early.
- Communication is key
Making sure employees feel comfortable speaking out about their mental health in the workplace is key, and ensuring that there’s a range of routes for them to do so. This might be through a company meeting or company wide email that emphasises the importance of telling someone trusted in the office or through training first aiders and highlighting their availability to teams. With more than one-third of employees (35%)* saying they do not feel comfortable letting their line manager or senior leaders know if they are experiencing high or extreme levels of pressure and stress at work, having this ‘third party’ option can be crucial.
Open communication should be a key value that can make all the difference. After all, a problem shared is a problem halved.
- Grow the community
Growing the workplace community allows those employees who are struggling, a safe space to open up about their mental health. At LifeSearch we have the Listening Ears group, which are mental health first aiders at the company who are available to listen, offer tips, and help employees have tricky conversations. With nearly half of workers (49%)* suggesting their workplace is ill-prepared to support staff experiencing high levels of stress, it is vital there is a system in place which is communicated to all employees.
Alongside this, employers should monitor for upcoming newshooks for a chance to share these days and months with employees or even turn it into a fun game to include all. The month of May is National Walking Month which goes hand-in-hand with the movement theme of Mental Health Awareness Week. At LifeSearch we have turned this awareness month into a fun light hearted competition for all employees to feel included. Employees track their steps with 8000 per week being needed to enter a bingo card to win a special prize. Incentives are great to influence employees to take part in fun competitions like this and ultimately employers are encouraging employees to walk which has huge physical benefits whilst also being great for our mental wellbeing.
