Every company has a responsibility to safeguard its workers, against any injury while they are on the job. This applies to both more conventional workplace safety initiatives, such as providing PPE and training for the use of hazardous equipment, as well as measures to safeguard your employees' emotional well-being.

 

It could be easy to believe that the mental health crisis brought on by the pandemic is also receding as many organizations try to create a new normal by reintroducing in-person work and activities. However, according to recent statistics on workplace wellness, employees at organizations and other places of employment will still face difficulties in 2022. The pandemic's advent, along with the sudden changes and isolation it brought, caused an increased emphasis on employee wellbeing. Even after over two years of pandemic measures, many employers and employees still place high importance on mental health.

 

So, keeping mental health in check, here are ways to prioritize employee mental health in 2022. 

 

• Create an Inclusive Culture

There are numerous justifications for fostering and upholding an inclusive culture. But actively displaying your appreciation for your staff, can aid their mental health.  By doing this, you may make your staff members feel more accepted and encourage them to speak up about any issues that are stressing them out at work.

 

It can be counterproductive to people's worries that they could be shunned or held back if they seek help if there are rules in place that highlight the significance of employees taking care of their physical and mental health.

 

• Offer Mental Health Days

Don't just give folks time off; actively urge them to unwind and refresh. Make it possible for your long-term staff by offering a few mental health days. Discourage managers or supervisors from making it challenging for employees to take a day off. Employees may work past the point of burnout if they believe they will be punished or stigmatized for being absent from the office. And doing that won't benefit your company in the long run.

 

• Check-in with Employees

It's possible to improve an employee's mental health by keeping lines of communication open and encouraging social interaction. Of course, you want to respect the boundaries and privacy of your employees. However, it can help their overall mental health if you can inquire about how they are doing regularly.

 

By organizing a walking or running group among your staff, you may also promote physical exercise. This can promote teamwork among employees while also providing a stress-reduction strategy.

 

• Partner with Relevant Providers

To ensure that your staff has access to exercise programs, wholesome food choices, yoga, meditation, or massage, collaborate with another local business. For instance, if you own a print shop, you could get into a mutually beneficial agreement with a massage studio to provide printing services at a reduced cost to the massage studio's staff.

 

Invite a yoga studio or other fitness center that wants to attract more customers to conduct a clinic in your conference room after business hours or during lunch. This can help another business and makes it simple for your staff to try something new without ever leaving the office.

 

• Offer Healthy Food Options

You might encourage healthy eating by providing break room snacks that can keep workers motivated and productive instead of daily doughnuts or Monday muffins. You can opt for:

• Dried fruits and nuts
• Guacamole and bell peppers
• Peanut butter and rice cakes
• Fresh fruit
• Greek yogurt 
• Tuna pouches

 

• Make Time for Fun

Emphasizing employee mental health requires making an effort to accept some humor at work. If your business often organizes meetings, you might introduce a fun activity, such as an icebreaker game, a joke, or an interesting topic, at the beginning of an all-hands meeting.

Some of these tactics might need a bit more effort, but putting employee mental health first can help demonstrate your concern for your staff members. Additionally, happier and healthier workers will contribute to the success of your company.