Supporting The Mental Wellbeing Of Your Team

The World Health Organization released a report in March stating that the coronavirus pandemic is to blame for a 25% increase in anxiety and depression worldwide. Anxiety and depression— as a result of the pandemic—have cost the world economy $1 trillion every year due to the nearly 12 billion lost workdays.

The good news? The world can get those 12 billion days back by providing employees access to wellness programs that help manage anxiety and depression. 

Employees have been asking for access to robust wellness programs and the option to continue a hybrid work environment post-pandemic. A survey conducted by Salesforce in 2021 indicated that 72% of employees desire a permanent hybrid working environment and having this flexibility has shown to positively impact their mental wellbeing. 

Employees Are Demanding It

Business culture is changing. Gen Z is much more open about their mental wellbeing than previous generations and it’s estimated that 60% won’t take a job that doesn’t offer a robust benefits package—including employer-provided assistance for self-care. Millennials feel similarly with a reported 10% opting to take a lower-paying job, if that job provides more benefits that offer assistance for mental wellbeing. 

Employees are asking for assistance with managing stress, anxiety, and depression, and employers that don’t listen could face challenges with recruiting and retaining employees. According to a recent Salesforce report, employees that take advantage of company-provided mental wellbeing assistance see increases in both performance and productivity—helping to create an environment that fosters creativity, innovation, and resiliency.

It Starts With Leaders

While business culture continues to change, one aspect of it hasn’t—employees look to their leaders for support. Leaders can help create a more open environment by starting conversations around mental wellbeing in team meetings, or during one-on-ones with team members. In my research, I came across one leader who even went so far as to put their weekly therapy sessions on a calendar for the entire team to see. Leaders should decide how to create engagement around mental wellbeing support and direct their teams on where to find and utilize those resources.

A great way that you can support the mental wellbeing of your team is with company offsites. Company offsites can be a great way to help team members bond and strengthen company culture. Company offsites allow leaders the opportunity to reaffirm the values and culture that brought the employees to the company in the first place. 

Amid the current economic climate, you may need to find an alternative option to bring your team together due to budget cuts or resources being allocated where they are needed most. At PandaDoc, various teams have a virtual-themed social hour each month, and during that time we engage in a fun activity together. Take your team through a virtual escape room, or work as a team to send animals across Mars (my team did this, and we had a great time).

Recap & What’s Next

The coronavirus pandemic has led to accelerated conversations about mental wellbeing and employees are calling for change—asking for benefits that include both physical and mental wellbeing care in addition to traditional professional development support. Leaders need to create an environment that allows team members to feel safe enough to share and express themselves and to take advantage of the resources provided without fear of it negatively reflecting on them. A transparent leader who displays vulnerability and takes an active interest in their team’s wellbeing is key to a successful safe space. 

Next week, we are going to discuss another set of best practices that can benefit your Human Resources team and the wider organization.

How are you working to support the overall health of your employees? Are you personally looking for support? If so, what are you asking for to help? Share some ways that you prioritize your mental wellbeing below!