CareerJunction highlights the importance of a business to prioritise mental health as a culture.
According to the job seekers’ portal, when employees thrive, their companies also benefit. “Increasingly, employers of choice are engaging with their people on mental health matters and developing employee assistance programmes (EAP) as an integral part of their employment value proposition,” says Career Junction in a statement.
The more employers are willing to listen and support their employees through mental health challenges, the more likely a company will be able to build a workplace culture that is based on mutual support and understanding and which enables their workforce to flourish.
The 2022 Universum Talent Outlook report revealed that work-life balance is more important than ever, even trumping income as a priority for most professionals.
“Work-life balance has been an aspiration for a long time, and more so since the start of the pandemic. Supporting mental health in the workplace can result in lower rates of burnout and higher rates of engagement, which in turn helps companies attract and retain top talent,” says Career Junction.
The following are some of the ways companies can foster a sense of work-life balance among their employees and build a workplace culture that prioritises mental health:
Create a safe space for candid conversations
“Managers should create an ‘open door’ policy and set aside time for regular one-on-one sessions with those reporting to them – not only to discuss tasks and deadlines, but to check in on an employee’s mental health.”
Provide employees with tools to manage their stress
Companies, Career Junction says, can help to reduce stress by creating ‘fun’ areas for staff to unwind and enjoy some downtime – such as gyms, game rooms or even gardens.
Allow time for focus and for short breaks in-between meetings
In the era of digitisation, it’s crucial to give employees short breaks between meetings and to allow them to schedule ‘focus time’ for uninterrupted work without distraction.
Take proactive measures to stamp out stigma
Mental health issues are often deeply misunderstood, which can lead to employees being stigmatised and result in bias creeping into a company’s culture. It is the employer’s responsibility to prevent this from happening by promoting a transparent working environment.
Create a culture of flexibility to support mental health
“Over and above formal benefits packages, companies can support wellness and the mental health of their employees by introducing flexible work arrangements – both in terms of time and location. Allowing employees to work at least some of the week from home, or to adjust their working hours, can alleviate stress and foster work-life balance. Some companies even offer additional “mental health day” leave as part of their Employee Value Proposition (EVP).”
