Mental Health at Workplace: Why It is so important?

In the last two years, mental health at the workspace has taken a big hit. Employees have settled into the new ways of working, and as they are returning, they want flexibility, amenities, and a balanced work-life. While some employees may already have mental health issues, others may continue to experience these issues during their careers.  

Workplaces that are stressful, unwelcoming, hectic, and occasionally even toxic rarely promote healthy mental health. Employees may experience burnout or feel unheard or unnoticed by their managers while under intense pressure to deliver and with no assistance.  

Employees are emotionally impacted by their work-related anxiety and other mental diseases, which have a negative effect on many work-related areas. Workspaces play a major role in employees' mental health and have the responsibility to make sure that employees feel at ease in the workspace.  

Why is Employee Mental Health Important?

Every area of our life, notably work performance, is impacted by mental health. If an employee's mental health is deteriorating, key performance measures like productivity, creativity, and social involvement can all suffer. Employers who prioritise mental health can help their employees thrive and realise their full potential, which is what business requires to succeed and expand.  

A person with good mental health is more resilient to the difficulties that frequently follow employment, such as life's stresses, difficulties, and setbacks. A person can move with agility and continue to be productive if they are strengthened against the unfavourable feelings and anxieties that come along with these trying moments.  

Impacts of Bad Employee Mental Health

Poor mental health does not only affect the employees but also the company’s core operations, and professional relationships, among others.   

Employee Relationships

An unhealthy feeling of competition can lead to tense interactions with coworkers. Instead of fostering a sense of teamwork under such circumstances, encounters will feel tense. An employee is more inclined to avoid conversations and be reluctant to share their thoughts and insights that help with creative problem-solving if they do not feel comfortable around their peers.  

The hierarchical nature of most firms means that managers and superiors have power over their subordinates, which can make workers feel uneasy and exposed. Constant stress at work will cause relationships to become strained. Additionally, an overworked employee runs the risk of falling short of expectations, especially those of clients.  

Decline in Productivity

Any business's revenue is the combined result of all of the business strategy and employee dedication. These are only a handful, along with creativity, precision, and top-notch customer service. Bottom line: Businesses with good earnings has healthy employees.  

A company loses the essential employee contributions it needs to maintain an edge over its competitors when time is spent managing challenging relationships rather than coming up with innovative ideas and being productive.

Also Read: How to Motivate Employees to Learn New Skills in The Workplace 

Low Employee Morale

Employees who are content with their jobs and who have supportive social networks at work are more loyal. Low morale, on the other hand, is more frequent when relationships with coworkers and superiors are unpleasant and there is little potential for expansion inside the company. An employee is more likely to leave the company in search of a better situation elsewhere if nothing is done to make them feel valued and cared for.  

Mistakes are a part of the job, and they often stumble upon problems that are hard to get on by, or work can get very overwhelming, in situations like these it becomes crucial for enterprises to make sure that employees can reach out to someone and seek the help much needed.  

Reduced Collaboration and Communication

It is often seen that anyone going through mental health issues tends to avoid connecting with others, talk much or think out of the box. As they are pouring maximum energy into being okay, it becomes harder for them to go the extra mile to get any task done perfectly. Employees tend to avoid attending the discussion or take criticism positively as a result of a constant low on energy.   

The work environment might affect mental well-being in addition to private, individual mental health support. Drivers of mental health include adaptability, psychological safety, feeling appreciated, and a sense of belonging. Mental health is a common problem that is crucial for both a high quality of life and effective workplaces.  

It is high time to shift the mentality from one of overworking employees to get results faster to one of balance and wellness to improve both the quality of life for employees and the profitability of the company. We have long moved past the times when the topic of mental health was taboo or something to be ashamed of.  

Today we have, Employee Assistance Programs in place to give employees the help they need, anytime with employers are now moving towards creating more employee-focused workspaces, with gaming zones, sleeping pods, gyms, break-out zones and much more.