An organization’s growth and success heavily rely on its employees, which means that taking care of them should be a top priority. With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, it's an important time for employers to think about how they support the well-being of their employees.
For those who may need to enhance their strategy, here are a few suggestions:
1. Create a Supportive Culture
Creating a supportive office culture can be a great first step in helping improve employee well-being. Reach out to your HR Partners at Engage to discuss prioritizing mental health within the workplace. If there is no stigma associated with asking for help, employees may be more likely to do so.
2. Prioritize Mental Health Training
Engage can share resources for managers and supervisors on how best to support employee mental well-being, particularly for anyone who may be struggling. Trainings can also improve upon efforts to create a supportive office culture.
3. Introduce Wellness Initiatives
Introducing wellness initiatives into the workplace can also be a great way to include mental health awareness within your office culture. For example, a member of your team can organize yoga or meditation classes as a team-building event.
4. Enhance Your Employee Benefits
Employee benefits offerings, like those offered by Engage, can provide employees access to helpful services such as an employee assistance program (EAP), which includes counseling services and more.
5. Recognize the Signs of Burnout
No matter how much you do to promote their well-being, employees may still become overwhelmed in the workplace. To help, you can encourage employees to take their vacation time, and offer the opportunity to use flex time to attend doctor's appointments or family-related events. Many employers are also embracing remote/hybrid work to reduce burnout.
It's Time to Start Paying Attention to Employee Mental Health
Supporting mental health in the workplace isn’t a one-month initiative—it’s an ongoing commitment. Whether you're updating your wellness programs, offering training, or reassessing time-off policies, taking action now can lead to long-term improvements in employee well-being and engagement.
Creating a culture where mental health is both acknowledged and supported helps employees feel valued—and that’s good for your people and your business.