im not sure how to say this..

Author

Mariam Mushtaq
May 13, 2024

 

Hello HR Enthusiasts! 🌟

Mariam Mushtaq here with this week’s first edition of HR Brain Pickings. Just finished a brisk morning walk ☀️—feeling energized and ready to jump into today's topic!

In This Edition:

It's Mental Health Awareness Week! 🌿 The post-pandemic era saw a significant rise in awareness, with many companies stepping up, launching initiatives, and prioritizing employee mental health more than ever before. 👏 

But - have these efforts made a tangible difference? Are employees feeling better supported? Has the stigma around discussing mental health at work decreased?

Let’s explore the latest developments and examine where we stand today. 👇️ 

How are you celebrating Mental Health Awareness this month?

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I’m not sure how to say this ⛈️ 

Well, how should I put this? I've been digging through some recent reports and stats on employee mental health, and it turns out that no - employees still do not feel better at work. 😶 

But honestly, is it really that shocking?

🔴 The past few years have turned both our work and personal lives upside down. Switching to remote work and then switching back to the office, going through the Great Resignation, and then dealing with mass layoffs. 😭 

We've all had to get used to expecting the unexpected, haven't we? 😕 

🔴 There is also still a disconnect between what employees experience and what HR and benefits leaders perceive regarding the prioritization of mental health.

While a whopping 84% of HR leaders claim that creating a mentally healthy workplace has climbed their priority list, only 47% of employees see it that way. Similarly, although 95% of these leaders state that supporting individual mental health has become more crucial, just 46% of employees feel this priority shift.

2024 State of Workplace Mental Health Report (Lyra)

2024 stats on Employee Mental Health

Let us first understand what is it that’s not working? What is contributing to the increasing stress at work? How exactly does it affect employees? Data now shows that the effects of workplace stress extend beyond the office walls. (duh! 🙄 )

🌐 98% of employees say global trends impact their emotional and mental health at work like economic instability, political uncertainty, and global conflicts.

🙍 Employees said their mental health challenges make them feel less focused (46%), less engaged (42%), and less productive (36%) at work. And 1 in 5 say they’re considering leaving their company due to their mental health’s impact on their ability to do their job.

😰 77% of employees say that work stress has negatively impacted their physical health, and 75% say it caused them to gain weight.

💔 Work stress is also driving a high rate of breakups and divorces: 71% of employees say work stress has caused a personal relationship to end.

👪️ Further, 39% of employees report that work has negatively impacted their ability to care for their family or children’s mental health.

😟 37% say it has contributed to serious mental health challenges, such as substance use or suicidal ideation.

It’s not all doom and gloom 🌞 

But here's a silver lining—according to Headspace, since 2020 there's been a significant drop in the stigma surrounding mental health in many workplaces. (this is a BIG win 🙌)

🟢 While only 35% of employees in 2020 reported that their company’s leaders talk about their own mental health, 89% say their leaders do so today. 👏 

🟢 Additionally, a significant portion of the workforce worldwide feels that their employers genuinely care about their mental well-being. 42% of employees have observed that their company’s commitment to mental health has not only boosted engagement but also enhanced productivity. 👏 

🟢 Also let’s not forget → Work can also have positive impacts on employee wellbeing: 53% of employees report that work helps them find a community of people with similar lived experiences, and 48% say work improves their confidence or sense of self. 🧑‍💼 

So, where do we go from here? Stay tuned, we will explore insights and what HRs can do to address workplace mental health.

Source 1: 2024 Voice of the Workplace Report (Calm), Source 2: Workforce State of Mind 2024 (Headspace), Source 3: 2024 State of Workplace Mental Health Report (Lyra)

May marks Mental Health Awareness Month—a crucial time to amplify the conversation around mental well-being. 💬 

This year, the theme is “Where to Start?”—a prompt to explore the beginnings of personal and collective mental health journeys.

🎁 Free Resources and Tools by Mental Health America: Access downloadable materials, including educational collaterals, templates, and printable handouts, tailored to help you launch impactful campaigns at your workplace. Get toolkit by MHA.

Another toolkit by → SAMHSA

Missed the last newsletter? Catch up here.

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Why Attend? Learn from the best, connect with peers, and explore innovative AI tools that are reshaping human resources! 👥 

Exciting Update: We've added a new speaker to our lineup! Learn all about Generative AI Co-pilots and understand how to use it in HR. 🚀 

Don't miss this opportunity - Register Today!

Today’s HR Reads for You 📚️ 

Tired of answering the same questions?

We Albus hears you. 🤖 With its proactive listening abilities on Slack, Albus learns from past inquiries and auto-answers repeat questions.

Learn what else Albus can do to free up your time to focus on more important HR tasks. 😌 

🎁TSOW: Top thread of the week

💜 Workplace Dating Policy

HR needs to set clear guidelines and expectations for employees before they start dating a coworker. This week, TSOW Members discussed how to craft a clear workplace relationships policy.

Become a member and share your insights on the topic → Join TSOW

That’s a wrap for today!

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