September 13, 2021

It made national news recently when that big sneaker company gave everyone at their corporate office a week off to destress and recover from pandemic-related stress and pressure. Now more than ever, with things still feeling so uncertain, supporting your employees’ mental health is vital to maintaining a productive workplace. While you might not be able to give your employees that kind of a break, there are still things that you can do to support them and their mental health.

First, you yourself can be vulnerable. Sharing your own experiences helps to destigmatize mental health problems and makes your employees feel more comfortable sharing. On top of that, this type of authentic leadership builds trust, which in turn improves performance and engagement. You can also model healthy behaviors such as taking a walk over your lunch hour or making a conscious effort to unplug.

Check in with your employees, and really listen to their answers. This also helps to build trust and connection, which leads to less employee turnover and increased productivity. 

While you are checking in, communicate with them as much as you can about what is going on with your business. Many people are concerned about their jobs, and knowing where the company stands and is headed can help alleviate some of that stress.

If you are able to, offer your employees the flexibility that they need. While things are not as crazy as they were in the beginning of the pandemic, your employees might still be struggling with childcare or need to focus on schoolwork with kids home in quarantine. If you can, let them work when they are able rather than the traditional hours so they can balance all that life is throwing at them. 

Finally, train yourself and your managers to recognize signs of stress and depression in your employees. And be sure to monitor yourself as well!

For now, I am going out for a run, but I could use a few more ideas for healthy ways to deal with stress. Jog over to Facebook or Instagram and share some ways that you deal with stress!

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: 1. The information above does not constitute legal advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. Please consult your attorney with specific questions. 2. As this situation is constantly changing, we will make every effort to stay current on this topic, however this information is provided as general guidance and may not apply to your situation, nor should it be relied upon exclusively. Please consult and confirm with your attorney if you have questions about these updates or their applicability.   3. In some jurisdictions this communication/website might constitute legal advertising. The choice to hire an attorney who is right for your business should not be made based solely upon advertisements. If you would like to learn more about our firm, please click here to learn about our firm and how to contact us.

Copyright © *2022* *Law Offices of Lindsey King*, All rights reserved.*