Posts

Five Ways to Support Employee Mental Health Virtually

/0 Comments/in /by

Five Ways to Support Employee Mental Health Virtually

May is here and the days are continuing to get longer! With spring in the air, many are taking this time to do some much needed spring cleaning or enjoying the warmer weather by taking some time to be outdoors.

While the idea of warmer weather is exciting, the COVID-19 pandemic still continues and in some areas, lockdowns and restrictions are still present which is still affecting the sense of normalcy that people are used to. However, there is a slight glimmer of hope with COVID-19 vaccinations continuing to accelerate throughout Canada and the United States.

Both countries anticipate that this summer will slowly begin the transition back to normal life, but in the present time, it is still a waiting game that is challenging the patience and the mental health for many individuals.

As a matter of fact, this week is actually Mental Health Week in Canada. This month’s theme is titled #GetReal, and according to the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, the purpose of this theme is to encourage individuals to be more vocal about what they are going through. The incentive behind being real is to not conceal your emotions and to seek out the help of others if you are feeling overwhelmed.

The third wave of the pandemic has been detrimental to the mental health of Canadians, but there are many resources available for those who need help during this time, with Wellness Together Canada being one primary example that is being highlighted during Mental Health Week.

For those who are working from home, it may seem like the norm now after more than a full year of remote working. Some have enjoyed this change of pace as they are no longer spending time commuting to and from work, while others have had a tougher time adapting to this with the lack of social interaction that employees are now facing.

With employees doing their communications with one another through online platforms, this may still not be the same for those who thrive on having physical interactions with others. Whether it’s running a meeting in-person or socializing with a colleague face-to-face, these interactions are more valuable to some as there are some facets of communicating that cannot be replicated through an online screen.

Supporting Your Employees’s Mental Health

Many companies have been proactive in supporting the needs of their employees during these times, and while the third wave is still very much present, companies should continue to support the mental well-being of their employees as best as they can. Below are five ways that companies can follow to ensure that their employees are performing well.

1) Conduct Routine Check-ins

Communication is key with employees. Any thriving organization needs a steady and organized flow of communication in order to run properly. But for employees, communicating with one another is important in the context of supporting mental health. For managers and supervisors, checking in on the wellness of their employees should be done in a genuine way that sincerely asks how an employee is holding up and if they need assistance. Whether it’s done one-on-one or conducted as a group check-in, these interactions, even if virtual, can be meaningful.

2) Show Appreciation to Employees

With the absence of social interactions in the workplace, a virtual meeting or an email may not have the same meaning due to the lack of intonations that can only be expressed in-person. Showing appreciation to employees is important is not only acknowledging the importance of the work that they contribute, but to also assure them that their presence in the company is valuable. For some employees who take pride in their work, reminding them of the value they add to the company can be helpful in boosting their mental health.

3) Organize Events that Encourage Engagement

Because of the current restrictions, events cannot be done in-person, but this does not mean that companies cannot organize them virtually. Whether it’s leisurely to get employees to just chat with one another, or with a given purpose that aims to educate, these events can be beneficial in supporting the mental health of employees. Especially if these events are designated to provide wellness tips during this time when employees likely need it most.

4) Give Employees a Break

Last year, our previous blog noted some of the initiatives that companies have taken to support their employees. One of them was to give their employees a break, whether it is through a day off, or some time off during the workday to help employees cope with the stress of the pandemic. Many companies have used these breaks to allow their employees to either recharge or do other personal commitments.

5) Promote Work-Life Balance

One of the biggest challenges that the pandemic has brought forward to employees is striking the balance between being at home and being at work. But since working from home has merged the two together, some employees have struggled to tune out from work while being in their homes, and many are feeling the stress from work linger into their life outside office hours. Companies should strive to remind employees to draw the line with where work ends by promoting the importance of having a work-life balance.

Programs and Seminars by Well Street to Support Employee Mental Health

As previously mentioned, engaging events such as programs and seminars that promote wellness and healthy practices can be beneficial for employees. With these insightful lessons, employees can take into practice these tips and advice and incorporate it into their lifestyles in and out of work. Well Street’s comprehensive list of programs and seminars that can be conducted virtually provide businesses and employees effective methods in supporting mental health.

At Well Street, we are founded on the principles of introducing healthy practices to the workplace, which encompasses both mental and physical health. Comprised of medical professionals who have a background in naturopathy, we aim to help organizations foster a healthy corporate environment in order to boost productivity and morale.

If you would like to learn more about how our team can help you or your company, consider contacting us to find out more. We are happy to provide you with guidelines and approaches to support the wellbeing of your team members through virtual seminars and programs.

Spring Cleaning to Enhance Your Overall Wellness

/0 Comments/in /by

Winter has officially come to an end! The warmer weather is slowly starting to linger throughout Canada. With the beginning of April, the days are getting longer and spring is finally in full swing.

For many, this past winter likely felt like one of the longest winters to endure given how the COVID-19 pandemic has now lasted for an entire season cycle. Since the pandemic started last year in March, it has been a difficult obstacle for many Canadians who have had to abruptly change their daily routines to follow the restricted guidelines that have been imposed to prevent the spread of the virus.

In the previous blog, we briefly explored how the mental health of Canadians have significantly suffered as a result of the pandemic. As a result, staying motivated during these unprecedented times has been difficult for everyone. From students to employees, the decrease of physical face-to-face interaction has made the majority of Canadians feel more lonely and isolated, as found by a poll conducted by Ipsos last year.

While the majority of Canadians are still waiting for their COVID-19 vaccines, it is important to take this time now to practice some self-care to keep yourself motivated during these times.

April means that we are now one-third of the way complete with 2021, and with a new season, it may be a good idea to do some spring cleaning. This doesn’t just mean doing a thorough cleaning of your closet or your room, but actually taking the time to unpack and unlearn some of your current habits that may not be doing you any good.

Spring cleaning to address certain behaviours and can be beneficial in giving you a much needed refresh just in time for the new season.

Decluttering Your Physical and Mental Space

Spring cleaning can often give you the satisfaction of starting brand new by removing things that no longer add any value to your lifestyle. Carolyn Rodriguez, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, tells Yahoo! Finance that the pandemic has caused many to mix work with home, and creating a boundary that distinguishes one from the other is beneficial in helping people become more productive and motivated.

The way to achieve this separation of work from home is to follow a spring cleaning procedure that aims to declutter both your physical and mental space. In other words, it is organizing the place where you physically live to work and play, as well as reassessing your mind by taking a closer look at the behaviours you partake in which influences your current habits.

Below, we will explore the importance of clearing your physical and mental space to improve your overall wellness.

Your Physical Space

In the past year, many people have become more mindful of the physical space they live in. Because of the pandemic, many have probably taken upon DIY initiatives to tidy up their home office spaces or improve anything else in their residence. With the absence of having to go to an office, it has become important for many to create a working space that allows them to work comfortably.

But did you know that the physical space that you live in can actually affect your mood? According to the American Psychological Association, the spaces that we live in can influence our mood and well-being, as discussed in a podcast episode that explored the psychology of design.

There are many components that affect the overall atmosphere of a room – from lighting to furniture, all of these parts are important. As a matter of fact, even the wall colour of a room can influence the mood of people according to an article from HGTV which looked at the psychology of colour.

In the context of spring cleaning, understanding that the physical space you live in can affect your mood and behaviour is important to know as it could be the factor that may be hindering your motivation. It is important to remember that even the littlest things like keeping your room clean or cleaning out your closet can give you a sense of satisfaction which is also tied to your mental well-being.

Your Mental Space

While doing spring cleaning to keep your physical space tidy is important, you should also prioritize decluttering your mental space to help you stay more focused on your goals. For many, they may not be aware of their own bad habits because these tendencies can often be swept away as a one-off behaviour while not knowing that it has become a recurring behaviour.

For example, how do you react when you feel stressed? Do you let your emotions get to you? Remember that moderation is key, but if stress is causing you to participate in something that may not be good for you physically, emotionally or mentally, then it may be time to stop and think and perhaps address these bad habits with a spring cleaning aimed towards cleansing your unhealthy mentalities.

Decluttering your mind is a great way to gain mental clarity. In an article published in Harvard Medical School, it noted that spring cleaning with the purpose of decluttering the mind is beneficial for one’s health. This is due to the fact that some people may use this as an opportunity to take upon healthy habits such as healthier eating or building resilience.

Additionally, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) also further emphasized that spring cleaning is a great way to remember to take care of one’s self. Especially during the pandemic, self-care has never been more important due to the isolation that many are facing. Taking the time to declutter your mental space is a good way to refresh your mind and focus on the goals you have set to better yourself.

Spring Cleaning With Well Street

Now that spring has sprung, perhaps you or your company may be looking to do some of your own spring cleaning to clear your mental spaces and regain some motivation. Well Street offers a wide selection of programs and seminars and we can help you or your company adopt healthier practices to support the overall well-being of yourself or others.

At Well Street, we are founded on the principles of introducing healthy practices to the workplace, which encompasses both mental and physical health. Comprised of medical professionals who have a background in naturopathy, we aim to help organizations foster a healthy corporate environment in order to boost productivity and morale.

If you would like to learn more about how our team can help you or your company, consider contacting us to find out more. We are happy to provide you with guidelines and approaches to support the wellbeing of your team members through virtual seminars and programs.

What Companies Are Doing to Champion Employee Wellness

/0 Comments/in /by

The mental health of employees has always been a top priority for many corporate companies. For many organizations, it is ensured by human resources management that employees have ample resources to ensure the well-being of individual workers. In the previous blog, it was discussed that companies who invest in wellness programs in the workplace can see a wide range of benefits, which include boosted productivity and higher return on investments.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) released a document titled “Navigating The New Normal” which advises business leaders on how to provide a workplace environment that ensures the well-being of employees during COVID-19. In this document, CAMH provides a guideline for corporate companies to follow to ensure that the wellness of employees are prioritized during these unprecedented times. 

The CAMH document also lists examples of companies that are introducing new strategies to champion employee wellness. In this blog, we will explore four initiatives that companies are doing to prioritize the mental health of employees in the wake of COVID-19.

1) Additional Day Off For Employees

Back in March, the COVID-19 pandemic forced companies to transition into online work all around North America. This sudden change was overwhelming for many employees, particularly those who may have had to make lifestyle changes in order to accommodate for this new normal. For instance, employees who had children that had to go to school now had to make time out of their days to ensure that their children are still engaged in their e-learning sessions. 

To make this sudden change easier for employees, Cisco introduced a new initiative back in May called “Me Day”. This day was designed for employees to take a day off in order to recharge from the overwhelming changes both from work and from their own personal lives. Similarly, Scotiabank added an additional paid leave day for employees who may need it in the event of needing medical care, childcare or eldercare. These initiatives by Cisco and Scotiabank are important in ensuring that employees are able to adjust and rest as needed with the drastic change in everything around them.

2) Daily Check-ins with Employees

The daily routine of work made an abrupt stop and completely transitioned into becoming fully virtual for many Canadians. As a result, the day to day interactions that employees would typically have with other coworkers have also shifted to being online. This change has had a negative impact for some workers, due to the fact that they feel more isolated from others. Randstad released an article which stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has put a bigger strain on the collective mental health for Canadians, and one of the best ways to alleviate this is to ensure employees can connect with one another in the workplace. 

For Google, the company launched an online training session designed to make employees and managers more mindful of how their fellow coworkers are feeling. Google employees were trained to provide check-ins with other employees, and detect signs if an employee needs to be reminded of wellness resources. Ernst & Young is also practicing the same method, by ensuring that management is doing more frequent check-ins towards employees to connect with them during these trying times. 

3) Online Wellness Seminars For Employees

With the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations are looking for ways to add and bring more value to their corporate wellness initiatives. Solutions such as virtual group webinars, can help foster social connections. Access to health professionals such as Naturopathic Doctors and Personal Trainers can help drive strategies for a prevention based wellbeing approach. Well Street is grounded in preventative wellness and we have been assisting corporate companies with wellness practices for over 7 years. Aviva, one of our clients has provided over 3 years of training for their employees to create a healthy workplace that values the importance of mental well-being. 

“We have continued our partnership with Well Street virtually due to the global pandemic. We have hosted monthly virtual seminars including “Teleworking in 2020”, “Creating Balance” and “Mindfulness” for our employees across Canada,” said Mary-Alison Pejskar, the Corporate Responsibility Consultant at Aviva. 

“With positive feedback and glowing reviews from our employees, we know we are getting a lot out of the sessions. Often our employees request to share the Well Street presentations with extended family and friends because they find it so valuable.”

4) Enhanced Open Communication and Feedback With Employees

During these unprecedented times, many companies have had to learn simultaneously while they created new initiatives that were intended to help the well-being of employees. The outcome for these initiatives are still uncertain for some companies, but others have made sure to create an environment that allows open communication to see how effective these initiatives are.

The Bank of Montreal (BMO) sent out surveys and hosted Q&A sessions to all employees within the bank. These forms of communication were designed to shape the next actions the bank should take to ensure the wellness of its employees. Mckinsey & Company followed the same approach by conducting town halls and surveys to understand the needs of their employees during these stressful times. The goal for both of these companies is to understand the needs of their own employees, and use the feedback they have gathered through surveys to implement new initiatives. 

How Well Street Can Help

At Well Street, we are founded on the principles of introducing healthy practices to the workplace, which encompasses both mental and physical health. Comprised of medical professionals who have a background in naturopathy, we aim to help organizations foster a healthy corporate environment in order to boost productivity and morale.

During these unprecedented times, investing in wellness programs is more important than ever to ensure that employees stay connected and motivated at work. We can assist your company and your employees by providing our expertise to introduce healthy practices that would protect and enhance the well-being of all employees.

If you would like to learn more about how our team can help your company, consider contacting us to find out more. We are happy to provide you with guidelines and approaches to support the wellbeing of your team members through virtual seminars.

The Benefits of Wellness Programs In The Workplace

/0 Comments/in /by

For millions of Canadians, going to work is an integral part of life. Whether it is part-time or full-time, the hours spent at work by Canadians take up quite a significant amount of time each week. According to Statistics Canada, the average amount of hours spent by part-time and full-time employees at work comes to about 37 hours per week. To put that into perspective, there are 168 hours in a week, and adults spend almost one fifth of their week being at work.

With the amount of time that individuals spend at work, it is important to consider that this can take a toll on the well-being of employees. Over one in four Canadians reported in a Statistics Canada survey that they feel highly stressed in their lives, with work being the primary reason.

To make matters worse, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians are feeling more stressed than usual according to a recent study conducted by Nanos for the Mental Health Commission of Canada. One of the key takeaways from this study found that more than three in four Canadians have never looked online to find information about mental health. In addition, Canadians who did find information on health and wellness, considered these findings to be extremely helpful.

This then brings us to the focal point of this blog, which is the importance of incorporating wellness programs in the workplace. To piece all the information above, individuals spend a significant amount of time at work, which is one of the main stressors that impacts their well-being. However, just as the study above suggested, not everyone is aware of the resources available to them to consult help. With this information in mind, this emphasizes the importance of employers to offer wellness programs in the workplace.

Offering this type of service would be mutually beneficial for both employers and employees. Here are four reasons why wellness programs are essential for every workplace.

1) Boost Employee Productivity

While stress for many individuals may stem from work, it is not just the only outlet where stress is present. For some, stress can come from other factors outside of the workplace, and this can affect the productivity of employees. In an article published by Harvard Medical School, it found that stress can take a toll on an individual’s health and career, and thus affects their productivity at work. On top of this, many employees who have mental illnesses are often reluctant to speak up about it as they sometimes feel like it would affect their jobs as suggested by the Harvard study.

By having a wellness program, it can help support the well-being of employees, which would then promote productivity in the workplace. In a report published by Sun Life Financial, employees who have access to wellness programs in the workplace have been more productive and more engaged in the workplace. If employees are in a workplace where their employer provides them with the support they need, then employees are certainly more inclined to put their best work forward.

2) Improve ROI For Companies

Mental illness is costly, and this applies for both companies and the entire economy. According to The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the economic burden of mental illness in Canada is estimated at $51 billion CAD annually in Canada. It is estimated that depression and anxiety costs the global economy $1 trillion USD annually in lost productivity according to the World Health Organization (WHO). These are alarming statistics, and this cost is also derived from the workplace where companies lose money from failing to invest in wellness programs to ensure the well-being of employees.

Companies who implement wellness programs actually receive a higher return on investment (ROI) compared to companies who do not. In a report by Deloitte, companies who had a mental wellness program in place for one year experienced a $1.62 CAD ROI annually for every dollar invested in the program. Plus, companies who have had these programs for over three years received a median annual ROI of $2.18 CAD per dollar. It is clear that investing in wellness programs in the workplace is crucial in improving the bottom line for companies, but most importantly, it protects and enhances the mental health of employees.

3) Become a More Desirable Workplace

Employees, whether they are former, future or current are most likely going to speak about their experiences in a given workplace. Often, employees will only speak about their experiences if they have been positive or negative, and websites like Glassdoor and Indeed offer employees a platform to rate their experiences with a company. In the context of wellness programs, employees who feel that they are mentally supported in the workplace are more likely to speak about their experiences in a positive way. It is common to see the primary complaints of workplaces to be too stressful, but companies who offer ways to mitigate stress through wellness programs would likely have employees who would praise these incentives.

In a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only half of workplaces offer a wellness program. In the perspective of Human Resources, one way to promote the desirability of a company would be to mention a wellness program if it is available, as multiple studies have reiterated the importance of having them in the workplace to support employees.

4) Improve Overall Health of Employees

Earlier in this blog, it was mentioned that many individuals do not know where to find resources to support their mental health. While companies have made a significant impact in improving the well-being of employees through wellness programs in the workplace, this improvement goes beyond the workplace. Some employees who have used these wellness programs are finding that it helps them even outside of the workplace to improve their overall health.

In a study conducted by Aflac, 61 percent of employees have made healthier lifestyle choices as a result of their company’s wellness programs. Along with this finding, employees also reported higher levels of job satisfaction, which also supports the previous point of employees praising their company for the resources they have available.

How Well Street Can Help

At Well Street, we are founded on the principles of introducing healthy practices to the workplace, which encompasses both mental and physical health. Comprised of medical professionals who have a background in naturopathy, we aim to help organizations foster a healthy corporate environment in order to boost productivity and morale.

We understand that not all companies have the resources available to provide a wellness program to employees. We can assist your company and your employees by providing our expertise to introduce healthy practices that would protect and enhance the well-being of all employees.

If you would like to learn more about how our team can help your company, consider contacting us to find out more. We are happy to provide you with guidelines and approaches to support the wellbeing of your team members through virtual seminars.