While an employee’s home-life is typically viewed as off limits by employers, there is strong evidence to show that stepping up support from the workplace to ease some of the stress and anxiety that parents are experiencing at home, in turn benefits an organization.
Workplace Contribution to Parents’ Mental Well-being
Mental health is an issue that impacts every workplace in Canada. The workplace can contribute positively or negatively to a person’s mental health.
Employees were not the only ones reeling from the effects of the pandemic. Employers were faced with major shifts in workplace routines and productivity levels. How the workplace responds to these challenges is imperative in keeping its workforce strong and competitive.
Now more than ever, employers must focus on building a supportive work environment that promotes mental well-being for everyone. A special focus on parents, however, is important to consider. In a survey conducted by the Business Performance Innovation Network (BPI Network), 63% survey respondents claim they had experienced parental burnout – with 40% of those cases being described as “significant”.[4] The impacts of parental burnout can really harm the performance and overall health of employees.[5]
Organizations committed to cultivating a mentally safe and healthy work environment see marked improvement in:
- employee engagement
- communication effectiveness
- process and risk management
- prevention vs. correction
Failure to do so is also a costly mistake for Canadian organizations. According to CAMH, poor mental health is considered “a top cost driver” for employers.[6] The economic burden of mental illness in Canada is estimated to be approximately $51 billion each year, with $6.3 billion resulting from lost productivity. By 2041, it is estimated that the cumulative cost of poor mental health to the Canadian economy will exceed $2.5 trillion.[7] It is important to note that these projections were made prior to the pandemic, and now it is reasonably assumed to be a much higher figure.
So what can we do?
Employee Check-In’s
Employers: Simply ask your employees how they are doing. Ask, “what can we do to support you?”
Parents: Check in with your colleagues. Have a virtual “water cooler” meeting. Form a tight support network; offer to complete a task for a colleague whose child is learning at home, or home sick from school or daycare.
A supportive culture yields more a more engaged workforce.
Embrace Work-Life Balance
Employers: Embrace flex hours. Remember that 9-5 is likely not feasible, especially for parents whose children are in full-time virtual school, or for parents whose children are home sick from school or daycare. In Ontario, it is currently a long endeavor to get them back to school/daycare after an illness!
Parents: Create a schedule. Sit with your children at lunch. Plan for interruptions. Manage your expectations. Be gentle with yourself.
Team Building Activities
Participate in a virtual cause. Create physical challenges (a walking challenge, for example; who can log the most steps in a month for a gift card to a local business). Join Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month.
Surveys
Conduct an Employee Engagement survey to better understand the challenges your team is facing. Learn where your strengths lie as a team, and share the good news. Understand what gaps exist, and share your plans for improvement.
Training
Employers: Invest in virtual training for your team to build common skill-sets, and develop your team’s confidence.
Team building is about providing the skills, training and resources that your employees need, so that they can work in harmony. But, to be truly effective, it needs to be a continual process, embedded into your team and organization’s culture. Consider a training program, such as Master Certificate Program in the Management of Workplace Mental Health and Psychological Safety, or the Certificate in Process Management, that provide the opportunity for your employees to work towards a common goal during ‘regular’ business hours.
Parents: Consider a training course or program that provides the ability to work at your own pace. Programs with pre-recorded modules will give you the flexibility you need, while enhancing your skill set.
Employee Assistance Programs
We need each other during these uncertain times. Business needs to continue, but with a renewed focus on employee well-being. Parents/caregivers are dealing with a lot right now, with more responsibilities at home and less opportunities for support.
Employers: Ensure your employees have access to help if they need it.
Parents: Take advantage of the benefits and resources made available to you through your employer. Seek support to guard your mental health: https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-mental-health-support
