Personal and Professional Lives Colliding
I hadn’t heard of Coronavirus three months ago so I could not have imagined it would fundamentally change the ways that we work. I never imagined our organizational cultures would be in our living rooms with our children practicing multiplication tables. It seems everyone has a story about how their personal and professional lives are colliding. They probably also have a story about how not colliding with others and staying six feet apart affects their mental health.
Mental Health and Productivity
Prior to Coronavirus, 61% of employees reported that their productivity was affected by their mental health-1. As this crisis continues, this statistic will grow. Individuals and teams may find it hard to focus and concentrate. They might be tense and irritable with one another and may struggle to find meaning in their work. Taking steps now to proactively address employee mental health and well-being will help prevent this statistic from growing. It will also set you up for a transition into success when life stabilizes. We don’t know when it will, but it will. The good news is that you don’t have to be in the same room to make this culture shift happen.
Creating a Mental Health and Well-Being Culture
Make sure employees know about mental health and well-being resources
- Include a robust mental health plan in the benefits package
- Train leaders on promoting well-being
- Promote diversity and inclusion
- Communicate openly about stress and mental health issues
- Cultivate a workplace culture that emphasizes communication and connection
- Invest in resilience programs
- Train everyone on how to recognize, respond, and refer others in distress
- Promote personal and work-life balance
1-Mind Share Partners’ Mental Health at Work (2019)