How to Promote Mental Health in the Workplace

Employers can have a significant impact on their employees' mental and physical health. There is a clear relationship between employee mental health and workplace productivity. Studies have shown that employers that promote mental health supports in the workplace are more likely to reduce absences and presenteeism.

5 Keys to Employee Mental Health

Through our work with the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Program, we have discovered 5 keys to ensuring a workplace supports employee mental health.

Implement a flexible work environment when possible

Many people with disabilities participate successfully in the workforce. At around 8%, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is higher than the unemployment rate for people without disabilities (4%). However, this does not mean people with disabilities are unable to work. Disabilities are both visible and invisible. In fact, according to Mental Health America, 1 in 5 adults has a diagnosable mental health disorder. It’s likely you already have an employee with anxiety, learning difficulties or another mental health challenge among your employees.

One easy accommodation you can offer is a part-time schedule. Many people with documented disabilities receive Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). These benefits allow recipients to work but limit the amount of money that can be earned or benefits will be lost. By offering part-time jobs, you can fill open positions with a motivated workforce.

Adapt training to meet the employee’s needs

Whether you are training a new employee or working with an existing employee to learn a new task, it is important to recognize that an individual with a mental health challenge might need more in-depth training. One of our employer partners has found that providing employees with a more detailed checklist to follow and more detail in scheduling helps employees with mental health challenges perform their jobs effectively.

Consider reasonable accommodations

Accommodations are small adjustments employers can make that can help retain valuable employees. According to the Job Accommodations Network (JAN), nearly 60% of accommodations cost nothing.

For example, a client in the senior living industry found that by assigning housekeeping duties to employees who needed more time to complete their assigned tasks, they increased resident satisfaction. The seniors in the community enjoyed having extra time to talk with someone and the employees felt less rushed and more able to provide quality services.

Other reasonable accommodations include:

• Allowing employees to wear noise-cancelling headphones
• Providing a timer or allowing an employee to use a vibrating watch to keep them on task
• Using color-coded systems to improve organization
• Allowing employees to carry fidget devices

See a list of low-cost accommodations

Look for employer support resources

There are many resources available for employers who want to support employee mental health. If an employee is in an IPS program, the employer can request assistance from their job coach. Job Coaching is a free service where an IPS Employment Specialist will work with the employer to understand the job’s requirements and tasks, then create support systems such as task lists of job aids that will help improve job performance. Job coaches can also be included in the appraisal process, which can help the employee continue to develop professionally.

For employees who do not qualify for a job coach, Goodwill’s Mental Health Toolkit and the Department of Labor’s toolkit can provide employers with ideas on how to support their employees.

The average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over their lifetime. Employers who want to promote good mental health in the workplace should talk openly about workplace stress, encourage employees to ask for help when needed and address symptoms of worker fatigue. Employers have an important role to play in supporting mental health. By supporting a culture that promotes health and well-being in the workplace you will benefit both the employee and the business.