Mental Health Is As Important As Professional Productivity!

The COVID-19 pandemic took a heavy toll on employees’ mental health. There was a majority of teams working from home; surrounded by their families or no one at all. As employees attempted to find stability at the beginning of the pandemic, this seemed to decline over time. Thus, highlighting a critical balance (or, imbalance) between employees’ mental health and their workplace productivity. As a HR manager, here are some key points to keep in mind when hiring new or checking in with existing
employees:

Remote Work May Not Be Your Best Choice
The WFH trend kicked off majorly in the COVID-19 pandemic. However, local businesses like groceries, gymnasiums and other spaces. Schools became virtual when it came to conducting classes and maintaining connections with students. Statistics show that 59% of employees would choose a company with on-site working hours over one with remote working options. This goes to show that employees would rather be physically at their offices rather than slumping with work-from home routines.

Poor Mental Health —> Physical Health Issues
Mental wellness is a key consideration when it comes to managing your workforce, whether in office or not. Stress can get elevated at home or at work and leads to major physical issues like heart diseases, asthma, depression and digestion issues. Make sure to always consider mental health to be a priority at work.

Offer Mental Health Support
Something as simple as starting a conversation could make a world of difference to your team’s mental health. Make sure to always have doors open and offer mental health support in the form of true medical care, an ear to listen or simply by showing understanding on PTOs.

Prioritizing Mental Health Aids Productivity
From optimizing employee workflows to increase productivity, we must shift our focus to ensuring our team members are in optimal mental health and stability. Take a step back sometimes to make sure your people feel seen, heard and supported. This on its own helps increase productivity, reduce absenteeism and improve their longevity in times of crisis.

The post-pandemic world is evolving back to workspace attendance. However, we must not deprioritize mental health. We must understand how leadership addresses and supports mental health in times of need!