Mental health benefits and diversity & inclusion at work are closely related; By offering mental health benefits to employees with different backgrounds, employers can support inclusion in the workplace. There are many ways to offer mental health benefits and promote inclusion at work – and here are just a few examples:
Create a Healthy Work Environment with Mental Health Benefits
When employers provide mental health resources, they send a signal to employees that they care about diversity and promote wellbeing. An open atmosphere encourages employees to feel comfortable and seen in their workplace. In addition, managers coaching and ongoing mental health training can help them support their employees in time of need. These steps are necessary to promote mental wellbeing and a sense of equity, which can result in a healthier work environment.
Build Trust
Trust is one of the key components in creating an inclusive workplace, and it is also important for mental health. Managers need to show empathy and build trust within their teams. Managers who don’t trust their employees and micromanage them can cause them burnout and stress. Burned-out employees are 2.5 times more likely to leave their position, and they are also less productive and less likely to share their experiences with their employers. With more people working remotely, trust is more important than ever. A remote team must have a high level of trust. Offer managers training & coaching benefits to further help them build trust and create a diverse team, to encourage a positive environment at work.
Meet the Demand for Mental Health Benefits at Work
According to LinkedIn’s latest workforce survey, 1 in 6 workers rate free mental health services as one of the top benefits they’re interested in. 37% of Gen Z women ranked free mental health benefits as one of their top three priorities. This demand aligns with recent employee demand for DE&I, and with their need to be acknowledged and seen. Offering mental health benefits encourages equality and equity, hence creating a healthy work environment that promotes mental health.
Provide Family Benefits
Companies can offer family and parenting benefits, to support parents without discriminating by gender. These benefits would create a work environment that promotes DE&I; Family benefits allow employees of all genders to have a better work-life balance and reduce friction at home, which can result in increased productivity and motivation. Some examples of family benefits could be offering support for caregivers and resources for workers dealing with postpartum depression. Based on CBC News, 95% of women in Canada were not offered any formal support in order to return to work after maternity leave. In this case, offering family benefits would signal to young parents that their organization promotes wellbeing, gender equality and equity.
Offer Inclusive therapy
Companies can offer inclusive therapy options in order to encourage diversity and make mental health resources accessible to all people regardless of their skin color, sexual orientation, physical ability, and religious beliefs. Inclusive therapy allows individuals to find a community, which understands them and celebrates their morals, abilities, and identities. It is essential to address such issues that need specific care and attention. That way, employees would feel significantly more comfortable talking about their trauma and receive a focused solution for it.
