There have been a lot of changes in how mental health is evaluated in the workplace. 71% of workers, according to a recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA), believe that their employers care more about their employees’ mental health now than they did in the past. However, 81% of workers believe that the importance of mental health to their future employers will play a significant role in their job search. Managers and businesses need to pay more attention to mental health and ensure that they provide employees with the kind of support they need.
Work schedule flexibility is essential:
According to the APA survey, 41% of employees want their employers to provide them with important mental health support. Flexibility demonstrates respect for maintaining a work-life balance. Employees benefit from this because they are made to feel valued by their employers and more content. In any case, adaptability additionally has numerous roundabout advantages. Mental health is strongly linked to workplace injuries, for instance. To put it another way, workers are more likely to sustain injuries if their schedules are too strict, which causes stress. The other side of the coin is that people who have been hurt are more likely to have mental health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression.
A workplace culture that recognizes employees’ need for vacation:
The survey revealed that approximately 34% of employees place a high value on a workplace culture that recognizes employees’ right to vacation. Employees in other nations have more vacation time than Americans do. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a worker with five years of experience at a company receives 15 days of paid vacation, while a worker with twenty years of experience receives 20 days. In nations like Austria, states require more time off for laborers. In Austria, for instance, there are 13 paid public holidays and 25 days of paid annual vacation.
Interest in part-time and remote work:
According to the survey, 33% of workers value working from home. An additional 31% believe that working four days a week is supported by their employer. The pandemic has tested whether it is possible to work from home, and many businesses have succeeded greatly as a result. Even though by 2022, approximately 25% of all professional jobs will be performed from home, a Forbes report indicates that opportunities for remote work will continue to increase in 2023. Employee productivity does not suffer, according to many businesses. to increase time spent at home. In the meantime, these businesses have saved money on rent, electricity, and other office-related expenses.
Most employed Americans now believe that their mental health is taken more seriously, which is encouraging news. They are also enthusiastic about the four-day workweek, which allows them to relax and rejuvenate during the rest of the week while working harder during the week.