Mental health as a key success factor for companies (Part I)

The importance of mental health is becoming an increasingly relevant area of focus in the workplace, especially in the post-pandemic era. Team mental health is declining due to higher stress levels and increased workloads. But what can companies do to promote the mental health of their employees?

Mental health is a key factor in success on a personal and professional level. This makes it all the more alarming that 41% of employee absenteeism since the pandemic has been due to mental illness. The pandemic has affected all sectors and its consequences are still impacting the health of our employees. The deteriorating health of the population and a growing desire to improve have presented companies with a new problem. In order to promote the mental health of their team, companies can define and provide various services to their employees. One of the most effective measures is offering flexible working hours (66%). Giving employees the freedom to set their own working hours can certainly help reduce stress levels by reducing the need to properly apply outdated and stressful practices. It can help build trust within your team and improve the mental health of your team. Flexible working (48%) is also seen as a popular way for HR departments to counteract pressure. By choosing a workspace, you can customize comfort factors for each employee to reduce stress levels. Incorporating home office options allows employees to work in the comfort of their own homes, optimizing their resilience for the long term.

Employers can also implement special leave policies (33%) to facilitate the presence of colleagues with mental health conditions in the work environment. These can take the form of so-called Mental Health Days for employees. This allows employees to fully focus on improving their mental health while on leave. The long-term goal of integrating measures to improve mental team health is to restore inner joy and pleasure in work and lead to a new perception of defined togetherness in teams. Yes – we always strive to have open internal conversations for continuous improvement. Measures to optimize team well-being can be individualized for each company. But a key element of the discussion is that a first step in the right direction has been taken.