Blog Post: Why ignoring mental health is bad for business

 

If the pandemic taught me anything it’s the importance of looking after your mental health. We have all been affected and it’s no wonder when you consider how much our lives changed. New mental health problems have developed and existing ones have become worse. Aside from the pandemic, it’s estimated that 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health issue each year and it’s vital that everyone has access to support.

Why do businesses need to act?

Employers have a legal ‘duty of care’ to do all they can to support the health, safety and wellbeing of their employees. Some mental health issues can be considered a disability under the Equality Act 2010. Employers need to ensure the working environment is safe, that they carry out risk assessments and that staff are protected from discrimination.

According to MentalHealth.org, mental health problems are the leading cause of sickness absence in the workplace. 70 million work days are lost each year which costs employers approximately £2.4 billion per year.

In addition to absenteeism, it’s also worth considering the impact of presenteeism, where employees will come into work but aren’t actually working for a whole host or reasons: ill, stressed, personal life etc.

What steps can businesses take to support their staff?

I recently completed Mental Health First Aid training and this is something I strongly recommend all organisations to do. As a B Corp, Gradient places as much value on people and the planet as we do profit, and so supporting the mental health of our team is something we take seriously.

As well as training, starting a conversation is a vital step. Talking about mental health still continues to have a stigma around it, although this is slowly going thanks to media stories and people talking more about their own mental health. Creating a supportive environment is key to encouraging people to speak out.

Further support can be found through EAP’s (Employee Assistance Programme’s) which can offer impartial and confidential advice and support.

I’d also recommend introducing Wellness Action Plans, which allow employees to communicate the best ways to support them.

The bottom line

When people feel better, they perform better both in their personal lives and at work. Creating a culture where it’s normal and encouraged to talk about mental health should be a top priority. Employers need to take action to support their employees. Making the right adjustments for an employee can go a long way to support their mental health and in turn to support their full potential.

Some resources you may find useful:

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/mental-health-workplace

https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-at-work/

https://www.acas.org.uk/supporting-mental-health-workplace

Please call for impartial advice on how we can assist and support you. Whether you are planning to spend a few hundred thousand or multi millions on your project, your call to us could set you in the right direction for success.

julia@gradientconsultants.com| Tel. 01323 738761