Promoting Mental Well-being in the Workplace: The Role of Benefits

Key Points

• Workplace benefits can positively impact employees' mental well-being.
• The pandemic has heightened the importance of workplace benefits for mental health support.
• Tailoring benefits to personal needs enhances employee attraction and retention.

The recent surge in employee resignations has prompted employers to reevaluate workplace benefits as a means of retaining staff. Workplace benefits have traditionally focused on insurance plans, yet companies are exploring innovative approaches to support employee mental health.

Creating a Culture of Wellness: Employer-Led Initiatives

Romina Avila, a queer Mexican organizer, lauds their current employer for offering exceptional workplace benefits. They highlight access to massages, physiotherapy, and wellness options that have positively impacted their overall well-being. Avila emphasizes the value of days off for various reasons, including mental health and personal events.

Their employer also provides wellness subsidies, covering gym memberships or subscriptions that promote employee well-being.

Workplace Benefits as a Source of Peace of Mind

Deidra Thompson, DNP, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, faculty member at Walden University, stresses the importance of employee benefits in supporting mental health. She cites health insurance, short-term disability, and retirement plans as examples of benefits that offer peace of mind.

Thompson explains that knowing one is covered in emergencies, life events, or unexpected illnesses can alleviate stress and the financial burden associated with such situations. Extending these benefits to dependents, such as spouses and children, further reduces financial concerns and job-related stress.

Thompson highlights the availability of employee assistance programs offered by many employers free of charge. These programs provide mental health treatment to individuals in need, demonstrating the employer's concern for their well-being.

A Sense of Meaning and Agency at Work

Thompson emphasizes the importance of a sense of meaning and purpose at work in promoting mental health. However, the pandemic has strained many individuals, leading to symptoms of anxiety, depression, and even posttraumatic stress disorder.

Agency in how one performs their job can also contribute to mental well-being. An anonymous 37-year-old woman from Ann Arbor, MI, expresses frustration with her employer's requirement for on-site duties despite the pandemic. She highlights the possibility of completing many of her tasks remotely, thus reducing staffing shortages.

Conversely, Leslie from Canton, MI, shares a positive experience with her previous employer, Mercedes-Benz Financial. The company provided a dedicated room for meditation, quiet time, and prayer, which Leslie utilized for quick meditation breaks to reset.

Feeling Valued Through Employee Benefits

Psychiatrist Rashmi Parmar, MD, of Mindpath Health, emphasizes the role of employee benefits in making employees feel valued in their jobs. She states that benefits like adequate paid time off, flexible schedules, disability programs, loan assistance, and health insurance can significantly reduce financial burdens and overall stress.

Parmar explains that benefits that promote a better work-life balance can enhance employee engagement and reduce burnout, leading to higher productivity and job satisfaction. Burnout can manifest as mental exhaustion, depression, anxiety symptoms, reduced productivity, increased absences, and negativity toward a job, impacting employee retention and the employer's success.

Positive Workplace Policy Changes During the Pandemic

Parmar notes that the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced uncertainty, fear, loss, sadness, social isolation, anxiety, and chaos, exacerbating work-related burnout. Employers have responded by making positive workplace policy changes to support employees and address their concerns.

Parmar emphasizes the importance of taking active steps to improve well-being, including creating a balanced lifestyle, dedicating time for relaxation, exercising regularly, and maintaining a positive and optimistic attitude despite challenges.

Conclusion: A Holistic Approach to Mental Health Support

Workplace benefits can play a significant role in supporting employees' mental health. Employers can offer innovative benefits that align with personal needs, promote a sense of meaning and purpose at work, and provide agency in how employees do their jobs. During the pandemic, workplace benefits have become even more crucial, and employers who prioritize employee well-being are likely to attract and retain a dedicated workforce. A holistic approach that addresses both the workplace environment and individual lifestyle factors is essential for fostering mental well-being in the workplace.