3 Reasons Why Mental Health Needs to be Part of Your Benefits Plan
There’s no question – taking care of your mental health is a vital part of being productive in the workplace. If you’re burnt out and stressed, chances are those effects are going to start showing up in your work results. Conversely, when you feel supported, happy and healthy in your life – you’ll undoubtedly feel more productive, motivated and committed to your job!
When it comes to creating wellness in the workplace, supporting mental health practices simply needs to be a priority.
In this article, we’ll discuss the growing issue of mental health in the workplace and why it is so important that employees are set up to feel successful, stress free and supported.
Stress and burnout leads to higher turnover and absenteeism.
According to a recent study, 500,000 is the number of Canadians who do not go to work every year due to a mental health issue. Not only is this an alarming statistic, it’s also a primary reason why mental health issues are recognized as one of the leading causes of disability in the country. It’s clear that in order for a company to thrive overall, employees need to be supported beyond solely financial means. Workers need to feel like their mental well being is held in high priority in order for them to feel successful in their role!
Imagine if you were constantly living underneath a pressure to consistently show up, even if you’re not at your best? That’s a recipe for burnout, fast. Life is full of twists and turns and that should be considered when it comes to employment. Perhaps you are dealing with a health matter, or a family member has just passed away. We can’t predict how life is going to hit us, which is why it is so important to know that in those moments you can feel supported.
When a workplace doesn’t place any value on psychological support, employees are more susceptible to feeling withdrawn or shut down. They may feel less inclined to show up for their shifts, leading to absenteeism and increased costs for the business overall.
The lack of support may even cause an employee to stop showing up for work altogether – they may quit unexpectedly simply because they don’t see any other option to go on. When mental health issues go unchecked, they can easily lead to physical symptoms that show up as chronic pain, insomnia or fatigue. Having such physical stressors to battle with can make it that much more difficult to show up for work and can even lead to workplace incidents that can cause serious injury.
On the flip side, when support is there, workers will be equipped to do their jobs safely and recover from any symptomatic issues more quickly and with less adverse effects. If you do have mental health support as part of your plan, ensure that you are effectively promoting these services to employees and their families regularly.
Support breeds trust and safety in the workplace.
If you are suffering from any kind of mental health issue, chances are your nerves are already on high alert. When experiencing symptoms of anxiety, it’s so important that you feel like your environment is safe and supportive. Safety and support breeds trust in the workplace. When an employee feels compassion towards their issues, supported with resources to get help, they will feel more inclined to stay committed to their workplace. Not only that, they’ll be more equipped with the right tools to stay healthy and productive.
If there is constant pressure to perform and show results, while not in the mental space to do so – an employee is more likely going to be more prone to burnout and even breakdowns. However, when the proper support is available in the workplace, a worker will be more likely to seek those resources out and take advantage of them!
Treating mental health helps your bottom line!
Without a doubt, it’s so important to protect your employees mental health. Aside from how vital it is for humanity overall, having the right resources in place will ensure your company’s bottom line is taken care of – everybody wins when health is at the forefront!
Everyone wants to do a good job. Certainly, no one shows up with an intention to slack off or not perform. If performance and productivity is low, it’s so important to look at the root cause and ask the valuable question of: “how are my people?” If your employees are showing up with physical signs of fatigue or are having to constantly treat medical issues, it’s time to look a little deeper at what could be going on. So many physical ailments are born from a mental imbalance, so what is happening beyond the surface?
When employees are happy and at ease, they are more productive and motivated in the long run. They want to be successful and will naturally go the extra mile by knowing that they have the support they need when they need it. In turn, this helps to reduce costs, reduce turnover and reduce issues for your organization. A company that operates through workers that are happy and healthy is like a well oiled machine, everything just runs smoothly.
Consider adding mental health support to your benefits package!
As mental health issues continue to contribute to the rise of work absences everywhere, it may be time to consider options for your employees. Know that when you empower your employees to live happy healthy lives, your business is going to thrive!
Mental health is just as important as physical health, (if not more!) and should be treated as such. Are you ready to find the right support for your employee’s mental and emotional wellbeing? Can we help you best promote and support your employees’ wellbeing through education, communication tools and health and wellness programs?
Navy and Sage Benefits is here to help! Contact us today as we have a variety of packages that can suit the needs of your business.
