Put employee mental health in the spotlight

Work Happiness Week. Mental Health Week. Work Stress Week. Does all this attention for the mental well-being of our employees seem a bit excessive? Don't be alarmed. In a large-scale study by TNO, no less than 20% of employees indicated that they regularly experience work-related stress.

That is significant. It means that 1 in 5 colleagues regularly goes to work with a knot in their stomach. This is very unpleasant for the employee. But, let's be honest: it is just as unpleasant for the employer. There is a high probability that work stress will lead to long-term absenteeism. The lead-up to calling in sick is usually just as damaging. An employee's concentration and productivity decline almost unnoticed, until they finally hit a breaking point and pick up the phone to call in sick.

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What is mental health, actually?‍

Of course, it is also a matter of personal perception. What one person finds very stressful, another might consider a piece of cake. It all depends on what you are used to and how you are ‘wired’ as a person. But in general, you can assume that someone feels mentally healthy if they are doing well in terms of:

• satisfaction
• happiness
• quality of life

There are all sorts of factors that determine whether you can check these boxes and feel mentally fit.

For instance, perceived health, issues with mobility, hearing, vision and sensation, social interaction with others, and having control over one's own life are important indicators for the score someone gives their own mental health.

Why is mental health so important?‍

Feeling good about yourself brings quite a few benefits. Mentally healthy people are happier, have better study and work performance, have more friends, and are better able to cope with stress and pain. Moreover, they have more self-confidence and self-control and are less susceptible to stress, depression, and anxiety. And when we talk about long-term stress, you increase the risk of overstimulation, heart rhythm disorders, back pain, or other physical complaints.

In short: both employers and employees benefit from investing in good mental health.

When does work have a negative impact on someone's mental health?‍

Of course, private situations influence someone's mental well-being. A divorce, a death, or financial worries often cause such stress that it doesn't stop at the employer's door. But it also works the other way around: if things aren't going well at work, it also affects how you feel at home. The following factors are most frequently cited by employees as work-related dampeners on mental health:

• excessive workload
• conflict with a colleague or manager
• feeling insufficiently appreciated and heard
• inappropriate behavior, discrimination, aggression, or violence

Tips to get your organization mentally fit(ter)‍

How employees arrange their private lives is their own business. But don't forget that an employer can also make an important contribution to mental well-being. After all, if you get satisfaction and enjoyment from your work, it has a positive effect on your well-being. Here are our tips for boosting the mental vitality of your organization:

1. Healthy workload‍

A little work pressure or stress keeps a person sharp and productive. But if the workload gets too high, an employee can become physically or mentally ill from it, especially if the pressure stays high for a long time. So take a conscious look at the following measures:

• Alternate complicated, stressful tasks with more routine jobs. Task rotation gives employees a good balance between challenge and recharging. It therefore prevents burnout and bore-out.
• Provide a healthy schedule and plan enough breaks. Make sure employees actually take those breaks and don't just hang around at their workstation!
• Make employees aware of the importance of good time management and give them tips.
  

2. Psychological safety‍

Being able to be yourself, being allowed to learn from mistakes, daring to speak up, and being able to say “no” when you don't want something. Mental safety in the workplace is part of a positive employee experience and is very important for feeling good about yourself. So make it a conscious part of your organizational culture. You can do this, for example, by:

• Being alert to gossip and backbiting. Speak to employees about it if you hear them talking negatively about someone else.
• Making a confidential counselor available. Ensure easy access by clearly publishing the contact details on the intranet and other media.
• Making topics such as mental pressure, respect, and giving positive feedback easy to discuss.
  

3. Encourage exercise‍

“Huh? I thought this blog wasn't about physical fitness?” we can hear you thinking. However, scientific research shows that sports and exercise have a positive effect on mental health. Exercise, for example, reduces the risk of depression, people gain more self-confidence, and general brain function also gets a boost when people move enough. So keep that in mind, especially if your organization has a lot of desk jobs.

Of course, we have a few tips in this context too:

• Go outside during your break and take a walk. By installing the Dutch Brain Foundation's (Hersenstichting) “Ommetje” app together, you can even build in a bit of competition.
• As an employer, reimburse (part of) your employees' gym memberships.
• Encourage people to take the stairs instead of the elevator.

4. Plenty of positive attention‍

People are social beings who want to be seen, heard, and appreciated. So make sure there is enough attention for and connection with each other in the workplace too. Here are a few pick-me-ups to start with:

• Start the workday with a short check-in together. Over a cup of coffee or tea, ask how everyone is feeling (for example, by giving it a score) and whether anyone might need someone to think along with them or another form of support.
• Give regular sincere compliments and encourage others to do the same for their colleagues.
• As a manager, set aside enough time for a regularly recurring performance or review conversation. Clearly record development agreements in a personal development plan and ask follow-up questions about work happiness. And yes, a good conversation is also possible when you have to hold it remotely because of different work locations or many people working from home. Be sure to read our various tips on our website for good online one-on-one conversations!

5. Eat and drink healthily‍

Scientific research proves that a healthy diet helps prevent depression and stress-related complaints. Drinking plenty of water is not only good for your body, but also for your brain. As an employer, you can also benefit from this knowledge:

• Replace the snacks in the company canteen with healthier alternatives (fish, vegetables, fruit, and legumes).
• Place water dispensers or water jugs at strategic locations.
• Don't just use your newsletter for business news; regularly include healthy recipes as well.

Make mental vitality easy with online options

From a healthy schedule to a smart personal development plan. From organizing a walking club to online newsletters: you can arrange it all online. Curious about how? Feel free to contact us with no obligation, we would love to tell you more!