Great information and perspectives in this article from MIT Sloan, which notes that “nearly 81% of workers face some form of burnout or mental health issue, and 68% of employees say their daily work has been interrupted by these challenges.” In a study of 1000 companies, author Josh Bersin found that “the organizations outperforming their peers are those that have cultivated a strong sense of empathy and flexibility, developed new skills to address workforce needs, and extended holistic mental health support to employees.”
At those companies, “Rates of absenteeism are almost 11 times more likely to be lower, and these employers are more than three times more likely to retain people. Companies that care about staff well-being are at least twice as likely to delight customers, to be identified as a “great place to work,” and to exceed financial targets. These companies also adapt more readily to change and are more effective at innovating.”
The article also offers practical tips to enhance mental health, including implementing policies and resources like sabbaticals, a 4-day work week, and child care benefits. And of course, “any good, proactive mental health initiative starts with listening. Most companies, and most business leaders, won’t know how much stress there is in the organization unless employees tell them. Sentiment surveys, open town hall meetings, and exit interviews are all crucial inputs for gathering facts and bringing attention to the issues employees are facing.” I’d add, please make sure that managers (and everyone else!) are trained in listening skills, particularly how to listen with compassion to those who are struggling. If you want help on this last piece, my book, The Empathetic Workplace: 5 Steps to a Compassionate, Calm, and Confident Response to Trauma on the Job, can help.
Read the full article here.