The Role of Mental Health Benefits in Creating a Supportive Work Environment

Let’s talk strategic advantage for business! Organizations are having to respond to changing cultural expectations. Unhappy employees are coming together to demand better treatment from employers or quitting and moving to work environments that do support employee well- being. The younger generations value mental health support as much as their salary compensation.

This movement, gaining more strength and popularity after the onset of the pandemic shows no signs of slowing down. A survey conducted by Indeed.com found that 18-29 year-olds, indicated mental health in the workplace is a top priority when they interview for jobs. Many of these young people coming into the job market are choosing to work multiple jobs. Sometimes this is for financial reasons but just as frequently young people choose multiple part time jobs to have schedule flexibility which leads to better work life balance and more control over how they spend their time. The statistics of the survey show 29% of younger employees left a job for higher pay and 29% said they left their job because they were burned out. This is a significant change from past trends where employees stayed in toxic work environments for financial security no matter the cost to their personal well being and personal lives.

Creating a Supportive Work Culture for Future Success

Creating a workplace for the younger generations and upcoming talent, where mental health and kind work practices are valued and offered, is now an essential consideration for any business owner looking to stay relevant. Employers offering mental health support as part of their practice and benefits stand to remain competitive, retain their talent and workforce employees, enjoy less absenteeism, and experience more creative thinking and problem solving.

What’s not to love? But wait! How do we create a work environment of this caliber?

Some Key Mental Health Benefits to Review and Include:

Mental/Behavioral Health Insurance or Independent Programming

Offering health insurance that includes coverage for mental health is a solution for many organizations. There are also some independent programming options now available as well. B2B is a business program package offered by Ovation Counseling: Mental Health Solutions for Business to provide confidential counseling to employees wanting to seek support. This package is a way to cut costs for both the employer and the employee who through the contract can get counseling at a fee more affordable for the individual. Offering a mental health benefit that is easy access, easy scheduling, online for convenience of schedule for both employee and employer goes a long way in spreading kindness and support.

Mental Health Days

Allowing employees the time to take off for mental health reasons can reduce stigma and encourage work-life balance. When employees feel they can take time off from work without repercussions, they are more likely to return refreshed and focused

Flexible Work Schedules

Flexibility in work hours and remote work options can significantly reduce stress and improve work-life balance. Employees who have control over their work schedules can better manage personal responsibilities and avoid burnout, leading to increased job satisfaction and productivity.

Access to Mental Health Resources

Providing resources such as mental health workshops, stress management seminars, and access to online mental health tools can equip employees with the skills and knowledge to manage their well-being proactively. This also helps in fostering a culture where mental health is openly discussed and supported.

Training for Managers

Training leaders and managers to recognize signs of mental health issues and to approach such matters sensitively is critical to setting the leadership team up for success. But more importantly, having resources the manager can offer (B2B- Mental Health Solutions) to direct the situation where it can be handled appropriately helps address issues before they become severe. Managers who are educated in mental health can offer empowered support to their teams where actual solutions and resources can be offered. Managers understanding “when to refer” is key to getting the employee appropriate support while maintaining job performance and minimizing disruptions on the job. Managers ae grateful for training to empower them with mental health issues which they may or may not have experience with.

Supportive Policies and Culture

Creating an environment where mental health is openly discussed, where employees feel safe to share their challenges, and where there are clear policies against discrimination related to mental health issues is a return to trust, inclusivity, respect, and overall health for the organization as well as the individual. In this environment, employees feel valued, managers feel equipped to support their teams, and everyone enjoys being creative without judgement. Loyalty is fostered because this is the environment people want to be a part of. Pursuing this balance isn’t just the right thing to do, it feels good to everyone and gets tangible results.

Measuring Success and Making Adjustments

To ensure mental health benefits are effective, organizations should regularly assess their impact. This can be done through employee survey feedback sessions and analyzing metrics related to employee well-being, productivity, turnover rates, absenteeism, etc. Regularly reviewing and adjusting mental health initiatives can help maintain their relevance and effectiveness. At B2B (Business 2 Business) we built in regular assessment tools to look at our services and their effectiveness.

Prioritizing Mental Health and Flexibility in the Post-Pandemic Landscape

The pandemic stopped the world and gave many Americans time to think and evaluate their lives. Many people got a taste of flexible work hours and work from home opportunities. Our world of work will never be the same. Perhaps it is good the younger generations are demanding changes be made that support healthy life, as this quiet revolution has already made the conversation more open between corporations and the people in them. A trend supporting kindness, trust, inclusion, loyalty, and creativity is not a bad thing. We are already finding ways to offer mental health solutions that are creative and more cost effective. Human resources are the most important to business in the age of information. Investing in them is the only way forward in ensuring long term success!