The Role Management Has in Workplace Health

Health is a very personal matter and every employee has a responsibility to look after their own health. The management team of any large or small organisation has an important role in promoting good health among employees. One area where managers should be concerned is in creating a positive mentally healthy environment.

Stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues in the workplace are on the rise. According to a 2018 survey by the Korn Ferry Institute, over 75% of professionals reported that workplace stress has a negative impact on their relationships. Two-thirds of respondents couldn’t sleep well due to work-related stress. However, one of the significant results from the survey revealed that 35% claimed that their boss was the major cause of their stress.

What can you do to promote good mental health if you are a manager in a corporation or a team leader? In this article, you will find out about 5 practical ways to care for the mental well-being of your staff.

1. Get educated about mental health issues

It is important to know the tell-tale signs of conditions such as anxiety, burnout, and depression. Knowledge of these mental health issues can help to provide appropriate support for anyone who is at risk or showing signs of extreme stress.

Also, knowing how to create positive environments in the office can help to prevent too much stress among employees.

2. Educate employees about the importance of good mental health

Education is the key to understanding why mental well-being is important. So, it is also just as important that your employees are also educated. Unfortunately, there are still stigmas associated with issues related to emotional health. However, talking openly about mental health conditions can do much to encourage employees to speak up.

You can provide educational information to employees, include mental health topics in team meetings, or provide informative talks for staff.

3. Promote open communication

One of the ways to help ensure that employees don’t get too stressed or suffer from anxiety is to foster an environment of open communication. Members of staff should feel that they can easily speak with management or HR about any concerns they have regarding workload or other work-related issues.

Also, open communication gives management the chance to provide positive and constructive feedback. One study found that a lack of feedback was a factor resulting in stressful environments. This also had a negative impact on employee performance.

4. Identify stress hazards

It is also important that managers don’t create an environment that promotes stress in the workplace.

According to the Health & Safety Handbook, common workplace stressors can include lack of role clarity, unreasonable work hours or schedules, and bullying at work.

So, managers should be observant and be aware of any potential issues at work that can cause stress. Having a good system to follow up on complaints, examining sick leave records, or noticing signs of low work satisfaction can help to manage stress in the workplace for employees.

5. Encourage your employees to adopt a healthy lifestyle

By encouraging personal wellness, employers can do much to help their staff care for mental health. Managers should avoid creating schedules for their staff that are so tight that there is no room for physical activity.

One simple way to do this is to allow for flexible hours or remote working. There are many technological solutions organisations can use to create flexible working environments for their staff.

Also, employers can encourage regular physical activity during the workday. This could include promoting lunch break walks, offering desk exercise equipment, or making sure there are healthy snack options available.

Another way employers can reduce their employee stress is by creating quiet time. This could include allowing afternoon power naps, avoiding sending work-related communication outside of office hours, or a quiet room to relax in.