A stressful work environment can lead some people to miss work or even leave their job, the American Psychological Association says.
Create a workplace that prioritizes employee mental health. Follow these recommendations from APA:
- Train managers to promote health and well-being. They should be able to recognize the signs of stress and mental health issues and know how to react, whether by sharing resources or employer-offered benefits, or talking one on one with the worker to figure out how best to address the tasks causing stress.
- Be flexible. When possible, offer employees the ability to work in person, remotely or on a hybrid schedule.
- Review health insurance policies. Support employee mental health by offering a range of policies, resources and management trainings that promote a healthy and flexible work culture.
- Listen to employees. Anonymous surveys, suggestion boxes and focus groups are good ways to gather feedback from employees on policies. Share results, develop a plan to address issues and make changes.
“A welcoming and safe work climate builds trust among leadership and employees, contributes to job satisfaction, and helps minimize job-related stress,” APA says.
