Mental health in the workplace: risk factors, challenges and solutions for improvement

Mental health in the workplace: definition and current issues

What is mental health in the workplace?

To begin with, mental health at work refers to the psychological, emotional and social state of an employee in a professional context. To assess their state, we need to understand how they cope with stress, anxiety and job-related pressures. In this assessment, we also take into account how they feel about going to work (feelings of apprehension).

What does good mental health look like?

Good mental health in the workplace is considered to exist when employees feel supported, valued and able to cope with work-related challenges in an appropriate way, using the right resources, and with peace of mind.

What are the current issues surrounding mental health in the workplace?

>Reduceabsenteeism in the workplace. Absenteeism generates direct and indirect costs for companies: social charges, additional compensation, replacement, extra workload for the team and disruption to the organization, loss of productivity...

>Supporting productivity and performance. Mental health is closely linked to productivity and performance. Employees who are morally and psychologically fit, and who feel emotionally secure, are in a better position to work. They are more focused, efficient, creative and productive. Several studies have demonstrated the link between well-being and performance. To cite one conducted by MIT and Harvard, happy employees are 31% more productive.

>Reinforce the attractiveness and retention of talent. A study carried out by DARES shows that 85% of organizations with working conditions considered restrictive find it difficult to recruit.

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>Improve corporate image. According to a recent survey by the Workforce Institute of UKG, an HR solutions provider, 80% of respondents stressed that mental health was their top priority at work. In fact, two-thirds of those surveyed said they would accept a pay cut if it meant having a workplace that was conducive to their well-being. A company with a solid occupational health and QHTC prevention policy is sure to have a positive reputation.

What are the main factors affecting mental health in the workplace?

Working conditions

Working conditions cover the material aspects (physical constraints, resources, health conditions, etc.), organizational aspects (working time, work rhythm, autonomy and room for maneuver, etc.), and psychosocial aspects (relations with customers, superiors and colleagues, sense of usefulness, etc.) in which the professional activity is carried out.

Good working conditions, with appropriate tools and equipment, good understanding between colleagues, a workspace that encourages concentration and comfort, and a reasonable workload, all contribute to employees' emotional and psychological well-being.

Management

Management has a major impact on employees' mental health. Nearly one employee in two has left his or her job to escape his or her manager. A management culture based on employee autonomy,listening, team spirit, inclusion, the right to make mistakes,recognition and feedback fosters a healthy, trusting social climate. This is in contrast to an authoritarian management style that values competitiveness and creates a stressful environment.

Work/life balance

Having a good work/life balance is one of the main expectations of employees. Initiatives to promote mental well-being include flexible working hours, teleworking, banning meetings before 9am and after 6pm, leave for employees who are caring for others...

What can be done to improve employees' mental health?

Raising team awareness of mental health issues

Awareness campaigns educate employees about psychosocial risks (stress, burnout, workaholism, overconnection, harassment) and the solutions available to prevent or eliminate them. They can take various forms: booklets, posters, mailings, infographics, posts on social networks, workshops, seminars.

The aim is to create an emotionally and psychologically safe working environment. To build your campaigns and run your workshops, don't hesitate to enlist the help of experts: occupational physicians, organizations specializing in mental health, psychologists, etc.

Training teams in PSR and good mental health practices

Employees must take responsibility for their own mental health. This is important if they are to take responsibility for themselves and adopt the right habits and behaviours in situations of stress at work. You can organize training sessions to help them recognize the stress factors at work, the behaviors to avoid and those to favor, so they can take care of their own mental health and that of others.

Implement organizational measures at company level to improve mental health

Articles L4121-1 et seq. of the French Labor Code require all employers to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and protect the physical and mental health of their employees. Two types of organizational measures can be deployed:

• Preventive measuresto reduce or eliminate RPS factors;
• Positive measures aimed at positively improving quality of life and working conditions(QLWC), notably through commitment, performance and fulfillment.

Here are a few examples:

• Preventing, reducing and eliminating occupational hazards;
• Teleworking ;
• Flexible working hours ;
• Limit digital pollution (apply the right to disconnect) ;
• Extended maternity/paternity leave ;
• Manager by care ;
• Reduce or eliminate non-essential team meetings...

Gamification, an effective lever for raising awareness and training teams about mental health in the workplace

Mental health is a subject that can frighten employees, and is fraught with preconceived ideas. HR gamification presents itself as a fun solution for raising awareness and educating employees about mental health. Thanks to quizzes, challenges, connected challenges and e-learning, the interest and commitment of teams is maintained. In this way, employees can more easily and effectively integrate the issues, risks and solutions they need to adopt to improve their psychological well-being.

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