With so much being said about Employee Mental Health, Organizations are still thinking long and hard about it. Does it need to be a priority? Isn’t mental wellness an individual business?
An eye opening report by Cigna 360 Wellness Survey 2021 states that 50% of employees in the UAE intend to change jobs in the next 12 months as the their wellness needs were unmet .The report highlights gaps in mental health support ,feeling of being un-cared or a lack of understanding by the employers.
The fact of the matter is that employee engagement and productivity roots deep down to one thing, how mentally and physically fit your employee is. To know that organizations are often times responsible for the mental health issues of an employee is a bitter pill to swallow.
Toxic leaders, workplace culture and no proper wellness plans are the major contributors. Toxic workplace environment leads to issues like stress, burnout, anxiety, insecurity, behavioural changes, dissatisfied employees etc.
Proper surveys, interventions at personal and organizational levels, structural and policy changes on a regular basis can prevent damage if any.
If truth be told, employees are flesh and blood, with personal, professional, social life and setbacks of any would affect their growth, productivity and work life balance.
It is time that organizations provide an environment of safety and security to their employees so that they thrive and perform. Because mental health when overlooked, will cost decreased efficiency, increased employee turnover rate and poor branding.
Mental Health support is not just about investing on wellness programs, but it’s about having a right mindset and internal processes to support your employees through the thick and thin.