When they're outside their work settings:

45% of employees seek out family or friends to help feel more like themselves
50% seek to feel better through exercise
54% escape reality through a book, movie or video game
34% seek alone time to recharge

However, employees note that it's considerably harder to find space to step back and recharge while they're in the workplace: The coping mechanisms above often just aren't available to them. About 18% of respondents said they don't have any go-to coping mechanism to feel better when they're at work. As such, there is a huge opportunity for employers to play a role in creating space for better mental health, and employees themselves offered suggestions for what they wished their employer would do to help them cope with negative feelings and other mental health needs while at work:

Nearly 20% of responses suggested employers could help just by being more human and acknowledging that it's ok to not always be ok – a compelling finding as stigma about discussing individual mental health needs evolves and acceptance of the need for change slowly enters workplaces.
37% called for physical or mental space from work, including quiet places to take breaks.
32% explicitly requested mental health resources such as counseling or mental health insurance coverage.

So, what tangible actions can employers do to make changes that have a measurable impact for 2022 to unlock the full potential of employees in the workplace and ultimately reduce turnover and boost outcomes? Some important considerations include the following:

Increasing the availability of physical spaces used for recharging and taking a break.
Encouraging mental spaces to "turn off" and unwind at certain moments in the day.
Acknowledging mental health issues openly and foster conversations around mental wellbeing. Commonly, and more than even money and financial reward, employees simply called for empathy from employers.
Modeling good behavior. Training managers in emotional intelligence and in coping with negative feelings, so their own mental state is a source of strength for their direct reports rather than a source of additional stress—remembering that often people don't quit jobs, they quit managers.
Calling out mental health as part of the organization's plan for the future, as a key component of the post-pandemic strategy as a way to future-proof the company.
Offer digital mental health solutions. Mental health is not a one size fits all approach. It's critical for employees to have access to evidence-based, clinically-proven, and accessible solutions that are available any time of day.

There is some encouraging news. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), work can be good for your mental health in general as it helps us feel productive and validated, and it creates a time in which we are focused on a bigger objective.

Instant Insights /

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