In a busy environment like Singapore, it’s common for us to put mental health in the back seat - but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to keep at it. A survey released by Employment Hero, shows that Singaporeans are the world’s most unhappy workers. To solve this, The Health Promotion Board in Singapore has been actively rolling out initiatives to help foster good mental health in the Singaporean workforce.

But why should employers care about mental wellness?

Beside it being a responsibility for employers to create healthy work environments, organisations should also be aware how it affects team productivity.  On an individual level, when your employee is stressed out, their heavy emotions will cause them to lose focus at work. This eventually leads to performance issues that when left uncared for, can cause this employee more stress, creating a toxic cycle. On a team level, a stressed-out employee is likely to have a knock-on effect on the people around them, causing issues like communication breakdowns, collaboration barriers, and work disruptions.

If no one intervenes, this will likely hurt business profits in the long run. It’s not difficult to become aware of your employees’ mental states, but it’s only possible if you can remove the stigma around mental health and provide a safe place for your team to talk about.

1. Insufficient work health and safety policies.

A work-related injury and illness can cause employees out of work for a while and impact their work performance quality. If this kind of thing happens, it can also damage the financial well-being of your business.

2. Bad communication among employees

Good communication among employees is essential to optimize workplace performance and keep them on their feet. If the employees lack communication, this will lead to misunderstandings, stress, suppressed work motivation, and even reduction in business profits.

3. Bad team management

As an HR or a business owner, we have to understand how the manager or leader manages their team. It doesn’t matter how big or small the team is, having a competent manager is very important for the employees to feel appreciated and motivated at the workplace. A good management means lower turnover rates and a more positive workplace environment.

4. Lack of support for employees

Take care of your team and they will take care of your business. Therefore, supporting your employee mentally could increase their work satisfaction and maintain their high level of morale.

4. Work-life imbalances

If your employees have a poor work-life balance, giving them too many work demands may increase their stress levels which can weaken their immune system and cause their health to deteriorate.

SgFitFam is committed to guiding organizations to become advocates of mental health. Stay tuned for our next article on ‘How to support your team’s mental health at work’ or explore our Mental Health Workshop to get some expert help!