Mental health can be a tricky topic in the workplace, but it doesn’t have to be. You’re likely here because you’re a business owner who cares about their employees. Still, showing your employees that you care can be a bit difficult sometimes. Usually, what people search for is understanding when it comes to mental health. There are a few ways you can show every single one of your employees that you care about them.
1. Offer Check-Ins
You should always strive to check in with your employees to see how they’re doing, especially after particularly difficult or long weeks. Offering mental health check-ins to your employees can help them feel appreciated and valued. They also may tell you if they need any special help or accommodations.
Check-ins should be a regular part of your week. Friday would be a great day to check in with your employees to see how they’ve felt after a week of work. Once you have a good understanding of how your employees feel, you may be able to move longer check-ins to once a month. Whatever you choose to do can help your employees feel seen and validated, and you may gain a better sense of how to be a responsible employer whose employees all love and appreciate them.
2. Allowing Work from Home Days
People feel more comfortable in their own homes. That’s one of the reasons working from home became so popular during the pandemic. To keep workers safe, employers allowed them to work from the comfort of their own homes — and people love it.
WFH rates will rise nearly 20% after the pandemic ends, as more and more businesses will be transitioning to remote-only locations. If your business isn’t already remote, you can offer remote work at least one day a week. Your employees are more comfortable in their own spaces, and those with anxiety-related mental health issues may be able to find more comfort in the objects and areas of their own home rather than in an office building.
3. Understand Employee Triggers
When you hire someone, you likely ask them if there is anything else you need to know about them. You should normalize getting to understand what triggers your employees. For example, certain people might have their anxiety triggered by someone touching them unexpectedly. Getting to know your employees’ triggers can save them from potentially having a bout of anxiety while in the workplace.
People with triggers may appreciate you wanting to accommodate them. People don’t choose when to be triggered or what to be triggered by, so it’s best to abide by your employees’ requests even if an anxiety trigger seems silly. That way, you can ensure your employees’ safety while they’re in the workplace.
4. Reframe Performance Reviews
You can’t judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree. People are much the same way: some may be good at one thing, while others might be better at something else. Try to take your employees ‘ individual skills into account rather than gearing your performance reviews to the same type of worker.
If you notice that someone has made a great improvement over how they used to work, compliment them. Tell them what they’ve done right and how you have noticed their achievements. They’ll feel like their work is being recognized and will strive to continue impressing you. This way, you acknowledge what they can do and encourage them to continue improving.
As always, make sure to ask what you can do to help them. Your employees will be grateful that you have invested your time into them, and they may be more likely to stick around in a workplace that they know respects them. When you invest in your employees, they invest in your business.
5. Offer Mental Health Training
To make life easier for your employees who have a mental illness, you could make your workplace mental health-friendly. Other employees will understand how to be kind and respectful to their peers once they know how their words can affect someone’s mental health. Many companies and institutions offer interactive classes that your employees can complete online or come to your office to teach in a face-to-face classroom scenario.
Thanks to these classes, you may find that your workplace has transformed into a friendlier place. You may notice that your employees are more considerate of one another, both in their in-person dealings and virtual conversations through email or instant messenger. A happier workplace makes for more motivation and well-done work.
Keep Your Employees at the Focus
Your employees aren’t there to make you money and leave. They have their own lives and emotions that you should consider to be an excellent business owner. Mental health isn’t a joke, and you’ll find that when your employees feel healthier, they’re happier and might enjoy their jobs more. Take an interest in your employees’ lives and health, and they might pay you back in a job well done.
