Are managers not capable of dealing with staff mental stress?
Source: Middle East Insurance Review | Jun 2023
While layoffs, increasing cost of living, inflationary pressures and many more issues have elevated employee stress levels, very few managers know how to deal appropriately with workers’ mental health concerns.
A new survey in the US by Kaiser Family Foundation found that nine out of 10 adults in the US believe that the country is facing a mental-health crisis. While workplaces usually have basic guidelines for managers on how to address issues like worker anxiety and depression, few have guardrails in place so they know what not to say.
That leads to haphazard attempts by bosses to air mental-health struggles in the workplace, which, though well-meaning, may increase strains on workers. More than seven in 10 employees polled by professional network Fishbowl said they are not comfortable discussing their mental-health needs and challenges with their managers.
Spurred by a pandemic-fuelled spike in mental-health issues among workers, organisations have responded with increased awareness and investment. With long-held stigmas easing, once-guarded business leaders now speak honestly about the challenges they have faced.
Two out of three CEOs said they talk about their mental health in the workplace, according to a survey last year by Headspace Health, up from just one in three who said so in 2020. But that doesn’t mean they’re doing so appropriately.
As new leadership approaches have gained traction, employees have begun to gripe on workplace blogs about managers encouraging workers to bare their souls before budget meetings. One even set up a ‘condolence corner’ during team calls, where staffers were expected to open up about a recent misfortune, like the death of a parent.
One senior executive said, “Managers are not therapists - it’s a liability. Most organisations would be concerned if they heard their managers were acting in this way because of the potential for unintended consequences.” M