One in four employees cite work and their careers as a main source of stress
One in four employees cite work and their careers as a main source of stress, with almost half of workers saying their anxiety is actually affecting relationships with their colleagues.
In today’s continually ‘switched-on’ workplaces, mental health awareness is more important than ever before. Now, employees can go the entire day without speaking to their managers, without having a face-to-face conversation or even a mindfulness break.
So, who’s job is it really to safeguard staff mental health – the CEO or the HR leader?
“When we created the National Standard of Canada on Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, we said it’s ideal for it to come from the very top down in a strategic direction,” explained Mary Ann Baynton, program director at the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace.
“Ultimately it has to come from every person, because if you as the HR leader are a champion for mental health, but still have employees treating each other disrespectfully, then you’re never going to have a psychologically safe workplace.
“In the same way, if you put every policy and procedure in place but at the same time senior leadership continues to treat people in ways that are unsafe – you’re not going to have a psychologically safe workplace.
“It has to be every person, but it can start anywhere.”
