Spotlight: Mental Health in the Workplace in 2024
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP
President & CEO, SHRM, F500 Board Director
Dear HR Leaders,
You’ve likely heard friends and fellow HR professionals recap this lesson many times, but its importance cannot be overstated:
Prioritizing mental health is imperative for organizational success.
Investing in a culture that fosters mental health is strategic for individual and collective success.
Why Mental Health Matters to Every Organization
Employee well-being is a multifaceted concept that extends far beyond physical health. It encompasses mental, emotional and social dimensions, each playing a critical role in how employees engage with their work and the workplace.
Here’s why it matters:
- Productivity and Engagement: Employees who are mentally and emotionally healthy are more productive and engaged.
- Retention: Supportive mental health practices lead to lower turnover rates.
- Innovation: Mental well-being fosters an environment where creativity and innovation thrive.
Empathic Leadership: The Key to a Healthier Workplace
Understanding why a healthy workplace matters is only half the battle. Empathic leadership is the driver that affects change. It’s about understanding the needs and challenges faced by employees and addressing them with compassion, civility and practical support. Leaders who practice empathy contribute significantly to a culture where mental health is a priority, exemplifying that understanding and support are part of the organization’s core values.
The Role of HR in Fostering a Mental Health-Friendly Workplace
As an HR professional, you are an empathic leader in your own right. HR is at the forefront of shaping the policies and practices that support mental health, with roles like:
- Developing Comprehensive Wellness Programs: These programs should address the physical, mental, emotional and social aspects of health.
- Creating an Inclusive and Supportive Culture: This involves training managers and leaders to recognize and appropriately respond to mental health issues.
- Implementing Flexible Work Policies: Flexibility can alleviate stress and contribute to better work-life integration.
A Call to Action for All Leaders — Mental Health Comes First
It's time for every leader to reflect on how their actions and policies affect the mental health of their employees. Are your leadership practices contributing to a supportive environment, or are they inadvertently adding stress and anxiety? What practices have you found effective? How does your workplace foster a supportive environment for mental health?
Chime into the conversation and let us know what truly works and why. After all, it's on all of us to learn and improve how we look out for and support our employees. And, like always, let’s aspire to be the change we truly want to see in the workplace.
With gratitude,
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP
SHRM President & CEO
Bilingual Director of Human Resources
2wHuman Resources professionals should not only promote mental health and well-being in the workplace but also become educated in this area. It would be beneficial for the HR professionals to have a general idea, and understanding from a psychological perspective considering it is increasing. It is not getting any better and I do not know that as HR professionals we are prepared to deal with possibly unfamiliar behaviors. I could never understand why the Universities never required psychological classes for HR Degree programs. We deal with people consistently. Now it has intensified in people's behaviors. It is not going to get any better. I have witnessed it on several occasions and it is concerning.
LinkedIn Top Voice | C-Level Executive & Advisor for Corporate building and Operations | Procurement and Quality Leadership | Vistage Chair | Interim Management | People Engagement and Culture builder.
3wJohnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP I have no doubt that is strategic. I have seen yoga rooms, break rooms, meditation classes and so on. However without a proper preparation of leaders to really understand the word CARE, those initiatives are useless. In your view, how do you see the role of the leader for mental health?
It’s a modern take on occupational safety, isn’t it? Focusing on employee well-being and psychosocial load factors, as well as areas you’ve so ably espoused, including trust and values in the workplace.
Human Resources Professional | President NCSHRM
1moMental health is a major issue facing the workplace today, and it's important for HR leaders to prioritize the well-being of their employees. When employees are mentally healthy, they are more productive, more engaged, and less likely to leave their jobs. This means a healthier workplace culture and better outcomes for the organization. What strategies does your organization use to prioritize mental health in the workplace?
Director of Talent Acquisition at Martin's Point Health Care
1moI am a huge proponent of leading through a mental health lens as I've had experiences myself and alongside colleagues who have been subjected to treatment in the workplace that took a very long time to recover from. The challenge is always in the mirror, though. In order for mental health awareness to make an impact, people leaders need to be willing to look at THEMSELVES and this tends to be where it all falls apart. Without first understanding yourself, exploring your past trauma, and recognizing your own reactions as a result of pain in your past, there is too big of a barrier to full empathy for your employees. How can we get C-suite leaders to recognize their own behaviors and do the self-work needed to truly be able to support the whole employee? I am hopeful for a future where leaders have the willingness to challenge their own assumptions and make decisions through a lens that supports the whole employee, and the business will always win as a result.