Picture this: a bustling office, filled with the hum of productivity and the energy of a motivated team. At first glance, everything seems perfect, but what lies beneath the surface tells a different story. Behind those determined smiles and seemingly unwavering dedication, a silent battle is being fought – one that often goes unnoticed and undiscussed.
The month of May saw the observance of Mental Health Awareness and keeping with the same let’s shift our focus towards a crucial but often overlooked aspect of mental well-being that deserves more attention – Prioritizing mental health in the workplace.
In today’s fast-paced world, where life moves at breakneck speed, the importance of mental health cannot be overstated. It seems that discussions about mental health in the workplace have become all too familiar, but are organizations truly taking tangible actions beyond mere words?
Being a part of an organization whose practices are built on the well-being of its people, I am keenly aware of the significance of mental health in the workplace. But it is no longer enough to simply acknowledge the importance of this topic. Organizations can and should go above and beyond to make a genuine difference in the mental well-being of their workforce.
Amidst the evolving landscape of the modern workplace, whom does the onus fall on? In my opinion, it is managers and leaders who stand as the catalysts for change and are charged with the pivotal task of not only recognizing the significance of this issue but also taking decisive and tangible steps to foster a supportive and mentally healthy environment for their teams. In this dynamic era, where employee well-being is paramount, managers and leaders hold the key to unlocking a harmonious synergy between productivity and psychological flourishing.
As a leader, I have had the privilege of contributing to the development of a workplace culture that defies convention by placing employees front and center. Through numerous initiatives, we have diligently strived to transform Godrej Capital into an exceptional work environment that fosters both personal and professional growth. Keeping this objective in mind, I want to share some valuable insights that have proven successful for us at Godrej Capital and may inspire you to adopt similar practices within your own organization.
What are some effective ways in which managers and leaders can provide support for mental health in the workplace?
Build a Safe and Supportive Environment
To promote mental health at work, start by creating a safe and supportive atmosphere where individuals feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, concerns, and emotions without fear of judgment or reprisal. Encourage open communication, active listening, and empathy within your team, cultivating a sense of trust and understanding. Building mechanisms & systems which allow feedbacking with employee listening tools such as Amber by Infeedo which we use at Godrej Capital or 360 feedback, skip level discussions allow for safe spaces where employees can voice their feelings & seek support.
Promote Work-Life Balance and Boundaries
Recognize the importance of work-life balance and actively promote it within your organization. Encourage employees to establish clear boundaries between work and personal life, promoting regular breaks, adequate rest, leisure time, and self-care activities. Lead by example, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy equilibrium and discouraging excessive workload or after-hours communication.
At Godrej Capital, we introduced the innovative ‘Switch Off’ initiative, which grants employees extended weekends, providing them with invaluable time to unwind, destress and engage in activities that bring them joy. We also offer our employees flexible work hours, enabling them to effectively manage life’s demands and enhance their productivity.
Provide Mental Health Resources and Support
Equip your team with the necessary mental health resources and support. Collaborate with HR departments or external providers to offer employee assistance programs, counseling services, or access to mental health professionals. Educate employees about available resources, reducing the stigma surrounding seeking help, and ensure confidentiality and privacy in these matters.
At Godrej Capital, a hygiene factor was to introduce an employee assistance program via an external partner which provides confidential and safe, free of cost counselling services to not just employees but also their family members. This service is delivered via an app which makes it self-managed, private & confidential. Apart from counselling services, the partner app carries a host of content which supports day to day work & life management scenarios.
Implement Flexible Work Options
Imagine having the flexibility to work remotely, adjust your hours to fit your lifestyle, or compress your workweek for ultimate productivity. By embracing flexible work arrangements, you can start witnessing reduced stress levels, increased work-life balance, and a newfound sense of empowerment. Your employees will thank you for it.
At Godrej Capital, one point which sometimes perplexes people is that we have no punch in – punch out system, or even the popular GPS tracking of employees on the field. We rely on our core value of Trust and we have witnessed that when trust is placed in the hands of our people they are more judicious and respectful of their responsibilities to the organization.
Speaking on the value of Trust, at Godrej we don’t have a cap on sick leaves. We believe it is unwise to stipulate how many days one can fall sick for. Instead, we provide unlimited sick leaves which again we have found have never been misused by our employees
We also offer hybrid working to some of our teams, including work from home for our frontline employees, which is hitherto unheard of in a sales-based organization in the BFSI sector.
Foster Social Connection and Support Networks
Recognize the significance of social connection in promoting mental well-being. Encourage team-building activities, create opportunities for collaborative projects, and foster a supportive and inclusive work environment. Encourage employees to build meaningful relationships and
support networks, both within and outside the workplace.
Apart from the regular team building activities, outbounds, fun events we also believe that true engagement at the workplace is what brings about happiness at the workplace. We have in place ERGs for various workgroups such as SheRises our Women’s ERG which sees equal allyship from men and women. In its first year SheRises has been able to recommend policy changes & introduction of facilities which enable women to have a more comfortable work environment with us.
We also have mentoring programs for different groups/ levels of employees in line with their professional and career needs. This has aided us to hone talent, keep them engaged and provided customized coaching to enable people to grow to their fullest potential.
Train Teams/Managers on Mental Health Awareness
Creating a mentally healthy work environment necessitates empowering teams and managers with extensive awareness and understanding of mental health. This includes providing training and education on common mental health conditions, their symptoms, and their impact on employees’ well-being and job performance. Furthermore, it is vital to nurture a culture of self-care among managers while implementing consistent support systems like regular check-ins and peer networks. These initiatives contribute to a deeper comprehension of mental health concerns, ensuring ongoing assistance to tackle challenges such as reduced productivity and difficulties in maintaining focus.
We also put our managers and HRBPs through a workshop which equipped them with the skills to recognize emerging mental health issues in their teams and to point them in the right direction for support.
Keeping in focus our efforts on the diversity, equity and inclusion front we have also bee conducting sensitization workshops and inclusion communication exercises across the organization to make people aware of diverse cohorts of people, the unconscious biases we carry and how to deal with them. We feel this is necessary to contributing to creating a psychologically safe workplace.
Recognize and Reward Effort
Strive to create a workplace where every effort, achievement, and step towards progress is met with genuine acknowledgement and appreciation. By recognizing employees’ contributions and providing regular constructive feedback, you awaken a spark that fuels their motivation and propels their passion to new heights. But it doesn’t end there. Celebrating milestones and
successes elevates the experience, fostering a positive work environment that nurtures not only professional growth but also enhances mental well-being. From celebrating work achievements to work anniversaries to personal milestones, efforts at Godrej Capital make people feel truly
belonged and that they matter here. An important award category for us during our annual Above & Beyond awards is the Best People Leader award which looks at various aspects of a manager’s outcomes with respect to their teams – and these are not just performance based, but on engagement scores, retention & growth of their teams.
At Godrej Capital, we wholeheartedly prioritize the mental well-being of our employees, placing it at the core of our company culture, policies, and practices. We firmly believe that when mental well-being is woven seamlessly into the fabric of a work culture, both employees and companies reap significant benefits. Leading by example, we have taken proactive steps to integrate initiatives that cater to the diverse needs of our workforce, placing mental health at the forefront.
Our commitment to supporting individuals extends beyond the traditional, as we foster an inclusive work culture that embraces the needs of all, including individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community and People with Disabilities. To nurture mental well-being, we also offer mental health assistance and conduct regular seminars to raise awareness and encourage open conversations. Furthermore, our rewards and recognition program go the extra mile to celebrate our employees and their remarkable achievements in a manner that truly benefits them. It is through these thoughtful and impactful actions, woven together in the tapestry of our organization, that we strive to create a workplace that fosters the holistic well-being and success of every individual.
This is an impassioned plea to organizations: prioritize mental health above all else.
It is through this prioritization that all other aspects of your organization will fall seamlessly into place. By placing the well-being of your employees at the forefront, not only will you foster happiness and satisfaction among your workforce, but you will also ignite a profound impact on the overall productivity and success of your organization. It’s a reciprocal relationship where you care for your employees, and in turn, they care for your organization. Remember, supporting mental health is an ongoing endeavor that necessitates continuous evaluation, improvement, and adaptation to the unique needs of your workforce.
It is time for all of us to rise to the occasion and take concrete actions to champion mental health in the workplace.
Ruhie Pande 