The Covid-19 pandemic has created many challenges for employers, including how to effectively support employees struggling with mental health issues, a topic which is explored by recruiting experts Hays in the latest publication of the Hays Journal.
The World Health Organization estimates that depression and anxiety issues cost the global economy $1 trillion a year in lost productivity, proving that there is not only a clear ethical reason to support employees, but there is also a financial benefit to doing so too.
A recent global survey* of over 1,800 workers conducted by Hays, revealed 37% of respondents said their mental health and wellbeing has been negatively impacted during the pandemic and 42% of those affected said their employer did not provide them with support.
These figures highlight the need for organisations and leaders to prioritise these challenges and to own responsibility for the mental health and wellbeing of their people within the workplace.
Organisations can raise awareness and reduce the stigma around workplace mental health by training people, especially their leaders, to become mental health first aiders. Leaders can also effectively support their workers in a number of ways including being authentic and acting as a role model by being open about their own mental health and wellbeing.
Sandra Henke, Group Head of People & Culture at Hays, said, “The pandemic has been an extremely difficult period for many workers, with some people having to deal with challenges and situations which have the potential to have a detrimental effect on their mental health. Many business leaders are making the support of mental health a priority. Part of the challenge is removing some of the stigma around talking about mental health and ensuring there is the opportunity for people to be vulnerable and seek help should they need it”.
Business leaders can role model healthy behaviour and attitudes toward mental health, by talking about their own challenges and sharing how they prioritise their physical and mental health. Demonstrating healthy behaviour and attitudes will in turn encourage employees.
Sandra continued, “Take care of your own mental health and wellbeing and set the right example to your team, show them it is a priority of yours and it deserves to be taken seriously. Be as open and honest with your team as possible and don’t be afraid to show them your weaknesses - let them know you don’t have all the answers either and sometimes you need help just as much as everybody else”.
With plenty of organisations planning to keep some form of remote working in place, even after the pandemic subsides, learning how to effectively support employees whose mental health has been negatively impacted will be vital for leaders.
*Respondents were asked a qualifying question of whether they are currently working, and responses were collected between 31 July and 22 September on www.social.hays.com.
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About Hays
Hays plc (the "Group") is a leading global professional recruiting group. The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional and skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK and Australia and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe, Latin America and Asia. The Group operates across the private and public sectors, dealing in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments. As at 30 June 2020 the Group employed c.10,400 staff operating from 266 offices in 33 countries across 20 specialisms. For the year ended 30 June 2020:
– the Group reported net fees of £996.2 million and operating profit (pre-exceptional items) of £135.0 million;
– the Group placed around 66,000 candidates into permanent jobs and around 235,000 people into temporary roles;
– 17% of Group net fees were generated in Australia & New Zealand, 26% in Germany, 23% in United Kingdom & Ireland and 34% in Rest of World (RoW);
– the temporary placement business represented 59% of net fees and the permanent placement business represented 41% of net fees;
– IT is the Group’s largest specialism, with 25% of net fees, while Accountancy & Finance (15%) and Construction & Property (12%), are the next largest
– Hays operates in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, the UK and the USA