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How Businesses At Any Size Can Start To Play A Role In Employees’ Mental Health

How Businesses At Any Size Can Start To Play A Role In Employees’ Mental Health
by Megan Pearl

From work to money to politics, nearly two-thirds of Americans are stressed. And unmanaged, stress can lead to more severe issues like depression or burnout. For both executives and employees alike, knowing how to build positive workplace environments can make a measurable difference. In today’s world where employee retention is the name of the game, enter HR.

More than rule enforcers, today’s HR professionals are increasingly taking responsibility for nurturing positive workplace cultures at every level, and managing stress and mental health can be a big part of that. For more insight on how to focus on mental wellness while maintaining productivity, we talked to CallRail’s Director of Talent and Culture, Whitney Hoffman-Bennett.

“The fact that my title is Talent and Culture and not just HR Director lends itself to the trend that is happening in companies now: they are taking a more holistic approach and being more considerate of the employee experience and wellness rather than just having a job.”

Bennett says the issues she primarily sees bubble up in the workplace are stress, work/life balance, and depression (which can often stem from financial worry and stress).

“Stress would be the top one,” Bennett said. “With technology, people no longer leave work at the office. It’s with them 24/7 and if it’s part of the company culture to always be available and on, it can lead to burnout.”

With a career rooted primarily in startups, Bennett said she has also witnessed the stress and work/life balance issues associated with founders, as well as employees going through life changes and having to change the way they work.

“[At startups], typically you have people that have grown up with the company,” Bennet said. “At the beginning people haven’t really gone through big life changes like marriage, babies, etc.”

Whether your stress stems from workload, finances, an evolving personal life or all of the above, managing mental health and work doesn’t have to be expensive or especially time-consuming. In fact, taking the time to work at your best rather than work the most hours could even improve your productivity.

Read full article on Hypepotamus.