EDITORIAL: Corporates ignore employees' mental health - but at what cost?
World Mental Health Day is observed in October. The theme this year is 'it's time to prioritise mental health in the workplace'.
This day offers a great opportunity for employers to reflect on their current approach to managing mental health at work and identify ways of more effectively protecting, supporting and improving employee well-being.
As Dr John Steytler, one of Namibia’s foremost mental health awareness advocates, writes: “Companies should have trained wellness professionals to recognise and deal with mental health issues".
This, however, would require companies to acknowledge workers as human beings with limitations and needs.
It’s unfortunate that despite the wealth of information on mental health and employee happiness, many companies still ignore the serious consequences of burnout, stress, depression and anxiety, and the importance of cultivating a respectful and conducive work environment.
This disregard for employees' intrinsic humanity - and treating them as automated tools - not only harms individuals, but also, inevitably, jeopardises the long-term goals of organisations.
In exchange for a pay cheque and benefits, human beings are willing to commit huge chunks of their time and energy to help companies thrive. But this is not a zero-sum game. In return for their labour, companies must prioritise the well-being of their workforce.
Data and advice on improving employee loyalty and productivity, both of which are linked to mental health and business success, abound. So why do so many C-suites deliberately ignore this information, and at what cost?
Companies need to realise that treating employees with respect and care is not only ethical, but also essential for their own goals. Moreover, a pay cheque should not be seen as a licence for abusive or bullying tactics, but as a mutual commitment to a 'win-win' game plan – one in which both labour and staff well-being are recognised as intrinsically and fundamentally vital to the prosperity of organisations.
This day offers a great opportunity for employers to reflect on their current approach to managing mental health at work and identify ways of more effectively protecting, supporting and improving employee well-being.
As Dr John Steytler, one of Namibia’s foremost mental health awareness advocates, writes: “Companies should have trained wellness professionals to recognise and deal with mental health issues".
This, however, would require companies to acknowledge workers as human beings with limitations and needs.
It’s unfortunate that despite the wealth of information on mental health and employee happiness, many companies still ignore the serious consequences of burnout, stress, depression and anxiety, and the importance of cultivating a respectful and conducive work environment.
This disregard for employees' intrinsic humanity - and treating them as automated tools - not only harms individuals, but also, inevitably, jeopardises the long-term goals of organisations.
In exchange for a pay cheque and benefits, human beings are willing to commit huge chunks of their time and energy to help companies thrive. But this is not a zero-sum game. In return for their labour, companies must prioritise the well-being of their workforce.
Data and advice on improving employee loyalty and productivity, both of which are linked to mental health and business success, abound. So why do so many C-suites deliberately ignore this information, and at what cost?
Companies need to realise that treating employees with respect and care is not only ethical, but also essential for their own goals. Moreover, a pay cheque should not be seen as a licence for abusive or bullying tactics, but as a mutual commitment to a 'win-win' game plan – one in which both labour and staff well-being are recognised as intrinsically and fundamentally vital to the prosperity of organisations.
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Namibian Sun
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