It is vital that employers make mental health a priority in the workplace. You will want to look after the mental health of staff so that they can perform to a high standard each day, enjoy their time at work and help to create a positive atmosphere in the workplace. Of course, mental health can be a very serious issue and it is not always obvious how you can help as an employer.
Perks
One effective way to look after the mental health of your staff is through employee liberties and perks. Offering flexibility in terms of their schedule and remote working opportunities can help staff to gain a greater work-life balance, it demonstrates a level of trust and can help to improve morale (this often results in an increase in productivity).
Communication
On top of this, it is also important to make sure that staff feel comfortable coming forward if they are struggling and need support. Communication in the workplace is critical for good mental health, so you need to make this a priority and lead by example. You can promote this with an open plan office space, an open door policy and by showing an interest in your employees.
Supervision
Autonomy can be a good way to make staff feel trusted and to avoid placing too much pressure on their shoulders, but you also need to make sure that you are monitoring, supervising and supporting staff as this is also important for their mental health as well as ensuring that they are working well. One key example of this is making sure that safety instructions are being followed at all times, such as wearing high visibility clothing if working in dangerous areas.
Ways to Monitor
The key with monitoring staff is to make sure that you are not being too invasive, breathing down their neck and doing so for their own best interests. A few of the best ways to do this simply involve observing them and asking them for accounts of what they have done since your last conversation. Self-monitoring tools can also be smart because they allow staff to track their own performance and identify how they can make improvements themselves. Regular reviews are also worthwhile, but you must be careful not to make these too negative and instead outline where they are performing well and asking them if there are any areas where they need support.
Hopefully, this post will help you to find the best ways to look after the mental health of your employees and ensure that they feel supported at work without being overbearing. You will always want your staff to be happy and able to work to their full potential, but mental health can be a major issue in the workplace and lead to many potential issues so it needs to be a priority.