By: Andy Howell, Uncommon Giving
This guest blog is contributed my Uncommon Giving, a leading provider of modern CSR software that helps companies amplify generosity, boost employee engagement, and simplify giving.
Mental health is no longer a peripheral concern for employers—it’s a central pillar of a happy, engaged, and productive workforce. With 66% of American employees experiencing burnout and stress linked to both physical and mental health issues, you need to take a proactive approach to protect your employees’ mental well-being.
To help you cultivate a healthier workforce, we’ll explore top strategies for promoting health and wellness in your workplace.
1. Understand the Link Between Mental and Physical Health
First, it’s important to adopt a holistic view of health that acknowledges how the mind and body are interconnected. Chronic stress can worsen physical conditions like diabetes, while chronic illnesses can increase the risk for anxiety and depression in people living with these conditions.
Try these strategies to start promoting employees’ mental wellness by protecting their physical health:
- Welcome activity breaks. Sitting at a desk and staring at a screen all day can be taxing for employees’ postures and eyesight. Encouraging employees to take breaks to walk around and give their eyes a rest from the screen will aid both their mental and physical wellness.
- Offer paid time off for health. If employees have to give up pay to see a physician or heal up after an injury, they may force themselves to continue working through the pain, which can have detrimental consequences for their mental and physical health. Provide flexible PTO to ensure your employees get the support they need without docking their pay.
- Invest in preventive care. Give your employees—and yourself—the gift of handling health issues before they become unmanageable. For example, tools like the Podimetrics SmartMat™ can help employees detect the inflammation that causes diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), offering peace of mind for employees and reducing per-member cost for payors.
Mental health doesn’t operate independently from the rest of the body. Offering opportunities for employees to take care of their physical health creates better outcomes for your employees and promotes a positive work environment.
2. Address Social Determinants of Health in Your Strategy
Many people don’t know that health isn’t just about your genetics. Factors like income, education, housing, social connections, and even race or ethnicity can create risk factors for your employees’ health.
Employers have a unique opportunity to help mitigate these challenges by implementing policies and programs that support their team. Here are some ideas to address these challenges:
- Support equity in the workplace. People from marginalized backgrounds may face more stress than their peers due to systemic bigotry. Implement DEI policies, and consider creating employee resource groups (ERGs) that invite employees with similar characteristics or interests to create a support network, which can increase employee engagement and improve mental wellness.
- Create a financial wellness program. 71% of people report experiencing significant stress related to their finances. Offering opportunities for employees to gain financial literacy (such as monthly workshops on budgeting or debt reduction) or access financial advisors can ease anxiety about finances and improve overall well-being.
Acknowledging the reality of social determinants of health (SDoH) demonstrates to employees that you care about their specific needs and gives every employee the opportunity to succeed personally and professionally.
3. Normalize Conversations about Mental Health
For far too long, even acknowledging the existence of mental health has been taboo. You can counteract that stigma by encouraging conversations at the top of your company about mental health. When leaders speak openly about the importance of mental health, it shows employees that your company will accept and support them.
Regular communication about mental health, both in person and via newsletters or emails, keeps the conversation alive. Don’t force employees to share personal stories, but let them know that they can talk about mental health freely if they want to.
You can also acknowledge key awareness dates like World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10) and Mental Health Awareness Month (May). Hosting events that educate employees on techniques like mindfulness and the importance of work-life balance during these times promotes well-being year-round. To engage more employees, 360MatchPro recommends hosting hybrid or virtual events so both in-person and remote team members can join.
Openly encouraging employees to take care of their mental health will create a welcoming culture and ultimately increase productivity.
4. Provide Tangible Support and Resources
Fostering a dialogue is important, but actions speak louder than words. Make sure employees have access to tools like:
- In-network mental health providers. Did you know that only 43% of employers offer mental health coverage as part of their benefits program? Show employees you prioritize their well-being by making professional help accessible.
- Mental Health Ambassador Programs. In these programs, trained employees offer peer support and help direct coworkers to resources like wellness tools (including meditation or stress-tracking apps), crisis hotlines, or information on how to access therapy covered by their insurance.
- Flexible hours and remote opportunities. Your employees know themselves and their needs best, so whenever possible, allow them to build their own schedules. Letting them choose the times when they’ll be most productive will prevent burnout and increase efficiency in your company.
Remember to keep employees’ use of resources like mental health providers or ambassador programs confidential. Frequent reminders about these resources will encourage employees to take charge of their mental health.
5. Empower Purpose Through Workplace Giving and Volunteering
Giving employees the opportunity to make a positive impact on their communities can increase their confidence and life satisfaction. Take on corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to increase employee happiness, improve your brand’s reputation, and create a stronger work culture at the same time.
Popular CSR programs like matching gifts and corporate volunteering are easy to implement with the right resources. Uncommon Giving’s guide to the best CSR software outlines how these tools make CSR easy by:
- Automating corporate giving processes
- Facilitating matching gifts
- Enabling employees to find volunteer opportunities
- Managing company-wide volunteer events
- Monitoring impact and employee engagement
Remember: giving back feels good. Opportunities to donate or volunteer with corporate support facilitate meaningful experiences and foster a stronger community among your employees. Ultimately, these programs help you increase retention and reinforce your employees’ sense of purpose.
Mental health support isn’t one-size-fits-all, and it’s important to listen and learn as you go. Your work isn’t done after you implement these strategies—keep the conversation going through anonymous surveys and monitor engagement in wellness programs to better understand your employees’ needs.
Supporting employee mental health is both a moral imperative and a smart business strategy. By creating opportunities for employees to get the help they need, you’ll be fostering a happier and healthier workplace where employees are empowered to do and feel their best.
