May is Mental Health Awareness Month and is a call to action for employers that high levels of mental illness make it a business imperative to address employee mental health appropriately. Employees’ mental health issues (and those of their significant others) exact a very high cost on the workplace due to lost productivity, absenteeism, turnover, etc., as well as to direct health care costs. Yet employers are often uncertain how to manage these issues out of fear of violating privacy laws and personal discomfort with the subject, among other concerns.
Surveys indicate employees may not seek help out of fear, lack of awareness, or denial. Offering benefits such as Employee Assistance Plans (EAP) and health plans with mental health benefits can help alleviate those fears. Employers that actively promote workplace mental wellness will likely enjoy better outcomes by destigmatizing mental health needs.
These websites offer free resources to help employers manage this workplace challenge:
Mental Health America: Toolkit
Mental Health in the Workplace: Resources page
APA: Center for Workplace Mental Health
Consult the Employers Council HR Planning Calendar to plan for upcoming compliance and other workplace awareness initiatives.
Members are encouraged to contact Employers Council for assistance at (800) 884-1328.
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