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Resources to consider for better employee well-being and mental health     

By Jane Marsh

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
    EAPs help employees with issues they face related to their work environments. Problems can include health, coworker interactions and mental struggles. EAPs tend to have a trusted point of contact the worker can turn to for help.
    EAP managers should be highly trained in spotting the signs of physical and emotional burnout and aware of programs that might help. Allowing workers to take a mental health leave for a few weeks might help get them on the right track, as well. Some companies have on-site mental health professionals to offer immediate counseling.
    Counseling sessions can run between $65 an hour to over $250, putting the cost out of range for many laborers. Invest in better insurance or on-site counseling to reduce the stigma and give employees the help they need.

Ergonomic and monitoring improvements
    Physical injuries vary by industry, but having an ergonomic engineer study jobs and make improvements can reduce issues. In construction work, for example, adding body monitors that alert the team leader to any changes in breathing patterns or movement can indicate an injury quickly and get the worker help.
    If someone complains of back or neck pain, look at the repetitive motions they do in an average workday. Can the work be split up among several workers to ease the stress on one’s body? Perhaps new equipment would solve the problem.

Flexible paid time off (PTO)
    When it comes to giving your body and mind a break, PTO is crucial and workers should utilize it. However, people sometimes run out of time off because they have a sick family member, have to take time off to care for their children or elderly parents or are ill themselves.
    When a worker doesn’t have any PTO left and needs it, the situation can add to the stress. Find ways to offer flexible time off. Offering a few paid mental health days may result in higher productivity and better employee well-being.

Green spaces
    Research shows people's mental and physical well-being relates to available green spaces in their living environment. A single tree filters 48 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. Spend time looking at the area surrounding your industrial building. Is it all concrete and no grass?
    Set aside an area to make a small nature reserve. Plant trees at the entrances to encourage happiness. Add a garden area to the roof or an outside break room. Look for ways to bring the outdoors in. People will feel more positive and thus be healthier.

Remote work
    For workers struggling with personal dynamics in the workplace, offering remote work options might be an alternative. In the industrial field, it’s tricky to do work from home. People may need to be on expensive equipment they don’t have away from the building. Some secrets may be trade sensitive and management doesn’t want manuals or parts to leave the building.
    During the pandemic, companies such as General Electric allowed workers to take some parts home and assemble them to keep things running. Look for alternatives to doing things the way you’ve always done them and see if the option to work from home helps some of your staff feel more rested and less stressed. Approximately 20% of service work and 7% of manufacturing now occurs remotely.

Peer support
    Train all your employees to be aware of warning signs for suicide. Create a “tell someone” policy. If a co-worker threatens to harm themselves or others, a worker should notify management immediately to provide resources and protect other employees.
    It might feel like tattling on your friend at first, but when you consider the alternative of them hurting themselves or others, it is easier to try to find them the help they need.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training
    The National Council for Mental Wellbeing offers a program for MHFA where management and workers can become certified to deliver mental first aid in a crisis. The training could save a life if someone is on the edge of harming themselves. The idea is to stop the event and then get the person more in-depth help.
    Even increasing awareness through such a program is beneficial and could reduce suicide rates.

Wellness programs
    Companies should implement physical and mental health wellness programs. Ideas include weight loss programs, physical fitness and learning relaxation and coping techniques.
    Offer a yoga class. Have a mental health professional come in and give a seminar on how to cope with anger, frustration or exhaustion. Go over company policies so workers know what’s covered and what they should do if they are struggling.

Individualized features
    An often overlooked segment is parents or adult children of people needing ongoing care. These employees may struggle to find equate care for their kids or relatives while at work. Consider adding a few parenting programs, offering paid medical leave and maternity/paternity.
    Facilities can also pay attention to the appearance of the workspace. While construction is more difficult because the setting changes frequently and is a work in progress, you can still offer workers a nice break area where they can kick back and relax for lunch. Buildings should have common areas for socializing and aesthetically pleasing rooms.

Improve your workers’ physical and mental health
    Small changes go a long way to ensuring your staff prioritizes their physical and mental well-being. Give them incentives for doing well and offer the tools needed to overcome obstacles.
    Create a company culture where everyone is accepting and open to trying different programs as they need them. With a little training and a lot of encouragement, you’ll wind up with a healthier workforce.