Work environments have a significant impact on employees’ mental health. Unhealthy workplaces can increase employee stress and worsen mental health. They can also damage workplace communication, productivity, performance and morale.
Did You Know?
According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, 70% of Canadian employees are concerned about the psychological health and safety of their workplace. Employees in mentally unhealthy workplaces are more likely to quit their jobs.
What Workplace Factors Impact Mental Health?
Numerous workplace factors may impact employee mental health, such as the following:
Understaffing
Inadequate Support
Long hours
Lack of work-life boundaries
Harassment, bullying or abuse
How Can Employers Help?
Employers can positively impact employees’ mental health with the following practices:
Create psychologically safe workspaces.
Employees are psychologically safe when they can voice opinions without fear of negative consequences, such as humiliation or rejection. Psychologically safe work environments promote creativity, innovation and motivation.
Provide mental health support.
Employers can positively contribute to employees’ mental health by openly discussing mental health resources in the workplace, providing flexible scheduling for workers to seek treatment, and provid-ing relevant in-office training (e.g., stress reduction and time management).
Encourage work-life balance.
Workers are more likely to be happy and productive when they can separate work and personal time. Employers can offer job flexibility when possible, encourage workers to unplug during off hours and require workers to take minimum holiday time.
Foster employee wellness.
Healthy eating, good sleep habits and exercise contribute to employees’ mental health. Employers can encourage healthy behaviours by offering wellness programs and employee assistance benefits (e.g., free counselling and therapy).
Employers that strive to create psychologically safe and mentally healthy work environments can boost employee mental health, productivity, satisfaction and retention.
At Finuity Wealth, we prioritize employee well-being and adhere to best practices. Our goal is to support the overall wellness of your team, ensuring they understand their value to your goals. Using our knowledge in financial health, we can assist in fostering a more engaged and committed team. We’re here to partner with you for the betterment of your business.
