Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace Leads to Happier, Healthier Employees

The way we look at mental health in the workplace has changed, especially because of the COVID-19 pandemic and on-the-job stressors like employee shortages, long hours, inflation and other unseen factors like financial or relationship struggles. It’s important that managers do their best to improve mental health in the workplace to create a healthy organization in which everyone can thrive and do their best work.

In this article, you’ll learn how to recognize the signs that your employees may be experiencing mental health challenges at work. Plus, you’ll learn how to improve mental health in the workplace by implementing a few great ideas for combatting on-the-job stress. By showing concern and empathy to your staff, you’ll make more solid employee connections and ensure they know how much you care about their well-being.

The Importance of Mental Health in the Workplace

Mental health is an important part of overall health, and when it is not made a priority in the workplace, it can affect productivity, attendance and job performance. According to a recent study, stress and burnout are the top factors leading to poor mental health among employees, with symptoms resulting from a lack of support at work, work-life imbalance and other organizational demands.

In fact, workplace mental health is so important that in 2022, the U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D., released the very first Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being. A 30-page document outlining the importance of providing workers with the essentials needed to thrive in the workplace, the Framework lists five essentials for workplace well-being:

There are many great ways you can lean into these five essentials for workplace well-being and help make sure your employees feel their very best both on the job and at home, and Hallmark Business Connections can help with creative ideas, inspirational gifts and uplifting cards that will ensure you connect with every employee in just the right way.

How to Recognize Workplace Mental Health Struggles

There are several things that can indicate that an employee or co-worker is struggling with mental health issues, however, it is important to remember that mental health struggles themselves cannot be seen, so it’s possible to have a highly functioning employee who is struggling. That’s why it’s important to stay connected to your team and to make sure your managers regularly touch base with the employees they supervise.

Be on the lookout for changes in individual staff members like increased absences, sudden changes in appearance, trouble concentrating, withdrawal from others and a decrease in focus and performance. Often these, and similar outward signs, can be clues that an employee is feeling stressed or burnt out on the job. And that’s where you can step in.

By letting employees know they are seen and heard on an ongoing basis, they are more likely to communicate when stressors arise—before they become too overwhelming.

What You Can Do to Improve Employee Mental Health

Good employee mental health is essential to the success of your business, and the great thing is that it doesn’t have to break the bank or take long hours to make a positive difference for your team. Here are a few great ways to support your employees’ mental health, increase positivity and show how much you care:

Create an awesome company culture. One of the best ways to do this is by listening! Start with one-on-one meetings with each employee to learn what processes are working for them and what things could use improvement. Talk to team members about their ideas for maximizing their talents while at work, and while you’re at it, be sure to come up with fun and inclusive ways to bring everyone together. Consider a company picnic, a catered lunch, casual Fridays, or you can even facilitate after-work or lunchtime groups like a walking club or a cooking club to help employees decompress.

Encourage employees to take breaks and use PTO. In our modern work culture, many don’t think twice about skipping a break or leaving a PTO day or two on the table to “take one for the team” and fill in at work. However, making this a habit can lead to burnout and unhappy employees. Encourage everyone to take their necessary breaks, put their feet up, grab a coffee and relax so they are refreshed to tackle the next portion of their shift. Likewise, make taking PTO a fun and expected experience…not something your employees feel guilty about. Be positive about their time off and show interest in the fun tales of adventure they want to share with you and their co-workers upon their return. After taking PTO, team members will be more refreshed and ready to give you and the company 110%.

Provide professional development opportunities. Everyone wants to feel like they are making an impact where they work, and when you provide opportunities for your employees to grow and expand beyond their current role, you’ll not only encourage them to push themselves further, but you’ll also gain even more experience and expertise for your business. When you invest time and training into your team, they’ll feel more confident in expanding in their role, and you’ll notice happier, more confident employees who are invested in their work.

Lift them up and remind them how great they are. Little reminders make a big impact when it comes to letting your employees know what a fantastic job you think they are doing. If they just rocked a huge project and won over a client, thank them for their efforts with an appreciation greeting card that shows your gratitude, and be sure to remember days on the calendar like work milestones and upcoming retirements. These are wonderful opportunities to let employees know exactly how much you appreciate the impact they have on the business.

Don’t Miss Opportunities to Connect with Employees Individually. Be sure to make time to get to know everyone on your team as individuals and recognize the important moments in their lives. Hallmark offers greeting cards for moments like the loss of a loved one, the loss of a pet, the birth of a baby or a new grandchild and more, which are all great opportunities to reach out on an individual basis and let employees know you care. At Hallmark Business Connections, you’ll also find appropriate business gifts like inspirational bookmarks and notebooks, as well as fresh-cut floral arrangements for those moments that require a little something more. Or send the taste of luxury when you select a mouthwatering box of artisanal chocolates from Christopher Elbow to let them know how much they mean. No matter the gift you choose, you’ll leave a lasting impression and remind employees exactly why they love working where they do.

“Investing in our team members is always the right thing to do!” says Robbin Champaigne, Director of Human Resources at Hallmark. She goes on to share professional suggestions for developing a positive team environment and staying connected with employees.

“Strive to create that positive culture that shows employees they are appreciated, cared for and their voices are heard. Be an open and approachable leader. Provide team members with opportunities to grow and stretch their capabilities. Celebrate the big and small wins. Show gratitude by saying “Thank You” a lot (and in different ways…like writing them a card). Take time to get to know and touch base with each team member. Check in frequently, especially when times seem difficult.

By taking the time to invest in your team members, you will reap the wonderful rewards of a happier, healthier and more inspired and engaged team. Isn’t that what we truly want for everyone?”

If improving workplace mental health sounds like a daunting task, don’t worry. Hallmark Business Connections has you covered with our vast selection of cards and gifts that are perfect for just about any giving situation. With our Mail to One service, you can personalize a greeting card for a single recipient—and we’ll even stamp and mail it for you. Or stock up on birthday cards, encouragement cards and more so you’ll have the perfect greeting on hand when it’s time to drop a special note on someone’s desk to make their day. Our Hallmark writers have even provided examples of just the right messages for a variety of sending situations, so you’ll be sure to say exactly the right thing when it’s time to send a heartfelt greeting.

Employee mental health is one of the biggest issues facing business owners, leadership and managers today. Increasingly, employees are feeling the strain of long hours and low morale, but you can alleviate many of the symptoms associated with fatigue and burnout by placing a focus on employee well-being. You’ll end up with happier, healthier teams, and the entire business will feel the positive impact.