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The Hidden Cost of Poor Mental Health in Employees
Mental health impacts every aspect of your employees’ lives — their relationships, their well-being, and yes, even their quality of work. Unfortunately, mental health struggles are an obstacle many of your employees are likely to face today, which is impacting not just them but your business, as well.
As a matter of fact, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that an estimated 76% of U.S. workers have reported experiencing at least one mental health condition symptom, and 84% of those respondents stated that their workplace contributed to at least one of their mental health obstacles.
The workplace you build has a significant impact on your employees’ mental health. Caring for their well-being should be a high priority for your business, because poor mental health in your employees could cost you more than you may know. At SWBC Employee Benefits Consulting Group, we understand these challenges and are committed to providing tailored solutions that prioritize employee well-being and help enhance workplace productivity.
The Hidden Cost of Poor Mental Health in Your Employees
When your employees are struggling, your business will struggle right alongside them. Poor mental health in your employees impacts your quality and service because of:
- Decreases in Productivity and Focus: When employees struggle with mental health issues, they often find it difficult to concentrate, meet deadlines, or manage their workloads effectively.
- Impaired Working Relationships: Work-related mental health issues can strain relationships among your team. Irritability, withdrawal, or emotional detachment caused by stress can create tension in the workplace, which can directly impact the overall work environment.
- Increased Absenteeism: Employees may miss work due to mental health issues, which can disrupt workflow and increase the burden on teams, affecting morale and overall performance.
How Employers Can Support Employee Mental Health
Supporting your employees’ mental health will prove to be beneficial for the entire workplace. Here are a few ways you, as a leader, may achieve this:
- Encouraging regular breaks and time off
- Offering access to mental health resources and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
- Training managers to recognize signs of mental distress
- Fostering a culture of openness and support
Recognizing Signs of Mental Health Struggles in Employees
Spotting the signs of mental health struggles in your employees early can make a significant difference in healing and preventing more serious issues down the line. While mental health conditions can show up in many different ways, there are a few key indicators you can watch out for.
Common signs of mental health struggles include:
- Significant changes in behavior and mood. Employees who are struggling with their mental health may begin withdrawing from their colleagues and social events, appear more irritable or emotional, experience mood swings, or exhibit noticeable signs of sadness, anxiety, or apathy.
- Decline in work performance. If an employee has suddenly begun to miss deadlines, become less productive, struggle with concentration and decision-making, or make more errors in their work, they may be experiencing mental health struggles.
- An increase in absences or tardiness. When one is feeling mentally unwell, they may call in sick or show up late more often. You may also find that they take longer or more frequent breaks than usual.
How Managers and Coworkers Can Help Support Employees In Need
When you notice an employee who appears to be experiencing mental health struggles, it may be difficult to know how you can help them. A few ways you can offer your support include:
- Being a safe space for them to open up to. Show empathy and allow them a place to talk without judgment. A private, supportive conversation can go a long way.
- Don’t make assumptions, simply ask if they are okay or if they need any support from you.
- Gently suggest they consider talking to HR, using your company’s available Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), or speaking to a mental health professional.
- Model healthy working behaviors. When leaders take breaks, prioritize balance, and openly value mental well-being, your employees will feel more comfortable doing the same.
Offer Your Employees the Mental Health Benefits They Need and Deserve
Mental health isn’t just a personal issue — it’s a workplace issue. By acknowledging its impact and taking proactive action to support it, both employers and employees can foster a more balanced, healthy, and productive work environment.
At SWBC Employee Benefits, we know just how valuable taking care of your employees’ mental health is. That is why we have access to a variety of mental health support for employers to offer to their employees. Contact us today to learn how we can help you build a happier, healthier workforce — because your employees’ well-being is priceless.
Andrew Grove
Andrew Grove is Executive Vice President of Sales & Account Management for the Employee Benefits Consulting division. He leads several aspects of the division, including the management of the sales team and its resources. Andrew is a Licensed Health Insurance Counselor as well as a Licensed General Lines Agent—Life, Accident, Health, and HMO, and he has received numerous training certifications and awards.
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