Linked – Why Most Workplace Mental Health Programs Fail
This goes along with what I shared last week about how most people wouldn’t say anything about a mental health issue at work:
“I’ve created all these policies around workload management,” a school principal recently shared, “but my teachers still aren’t speaking up when they’re overwhelmed. How do I create an environment where they feel safe telling me before they burn out?” Her question captures why we find so many workplace mental health efforts fall short; they focus on policies and procedures while missing the human elements that bring them to life.
The article continues to discuss the different requirements for making this work. Having solid policies is just the beginning. If your employees don’t feel safe, all the policies and resources in the world won’t matter. Having good mental health benefits is great, but making the environment safe for employees who take advantage of them is better.
They aren’t risking their career to ask for better work-life balance if everyone around them and everyone they report to displays the opposite behavior. When the environment rewards long hours and overwork to the point of burnout, you can’t expect anyone to do the opposite. There’s no proof that it will be supported.
That’s not a policy; it’s a behavior.
It’s also trust. If the employees are on edge because of recent layoffs, they don’t trust you. They also know they aren’t safe. It’s something to keep in mind.
Follow these topics: Mental Health
