How Poor Mental Health Affects Your Business?
In a busy environment like Singapore, it’s common for us to put mental health in the back seat - but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to keep at it. A survey released by Employment Hero, shows that Singaporeans are the world’s most unhappy workers. This unhappiness often stems from poor mental health caused by stress and workplace pressures. To solve this, the Health Promotion Board in Singapore has been actively rolling out initiatives to help foster good mental health in the Singaporean workforce.
But why should employers care about mental wellness?
Besides it being a responsibility for employers to create healthy work environments, organisations should also be aware of how it affects team productivity. On an individual level, when your employee is stressed out, their heavy emotions will cause them to lose focus at work. This eventually leads to performance issues that when left uncared for, can cause this employee more stress, creating a toxic cycle. On a team level, a stressed-out employee is likely to have a knock-on effect on the people around them, causing issues like communication breakdowns, collaboration barriers, and work disruptions.
If no one intervenes, this will likely hurt business profits in the long run. It’s not difficult to become aware of your employees’ mental states, but it’s only possible if you can remove the mental health stigma and provide a safe place for your team to talk about their mental wellbeing. Educating the workforce about mental health awareness is a crucial step in this direction.
1. Insufficient work health and safety policies.
A work-related injury and illness can cause employees to be out of work for a while and impact their work performance quality. If this kind of thing happens, it can also damage the financial well-being of your business.
2. Bad communication among employees
Good communication among employees is essential to optimize workplace performance and keep them on their feet. If the employees lack communication, this will lead to misunderstandings, stress, suppressed work motivation, and even reduction in business profits. This communication breakdown can also create a tense work environment. Over time, poor communication can worsen signs of anxiety, making it even harder for workers to manage their stress levels effectively.
3. Bad team management
As an HR or a business owner, we have to understand how the manager or leader manages their team. It doesn’t matter how big or small the team is, having a competent manager is very important for the employees to feel appreciated and motivated in the workplace. Good management means lower turnover rates and a more positive workplace environment. Good management practices can significantly reduce signs of depression and anxiety among employees, contributing to a healthier workforce.
4. Lack of support for employees
Take care of your team and they will take care of your business. Therefore, supporting your employees mentally could increase their job satisfaction and maintain their high level of morale. Providing access to mental health services and resources helps employees manage their stress and prevents clinical depression.
5. Work-life imbalances
If your employees have a poor work-life balance, giving them too many work demands may increase their stress levels which can weaken their immune system and cause their health to deteriorate.
In conclusion, removing the stigma around mental health will create a healthier, more productive work environment. Promoting a positive workplace culture and improving job satisfaction are essential for a thriving business.
FITFAMCO is committed to guiding organizations to become advocates of mental health. Check out our next article on “How to Implement Mental Health Support at Your Workplace?” or explore our Mental Health Workshop to get some expert help!