Supporting employee health benefits workplace, community

Concerns about employee health has benefits to the community at large as well as the atmosphere at work, said Dr. Nii Addy, who will address the topic Monday during an evening lecture at Cameron University.

Addy, a neuroscientist, said research has shown the health and mental health benefits that result from being in a community, while showing concern for each other’s health and well-being, in turn, helps a community thrive. Community can mean a work environment, meaning employers can foster a caring community through concern about employee health, he said, adding employee health also impacts productivity and job outcomes.

“It’s staggering when we consider the billions of dollars spent each year on treating illness, along with the lost work hours and lost productivity due to illness,” Addy said. “From a holistic standpoint, showing concern for employee health can help to foster an inclusive and caring workplace culture, it can promote wellness and it can provide people with support when they face health challenges. It can also enhance productivity, and likely workplace satisfaction as well.”

Addy said there are things employers can do; for example, watching for changes in mood or overall demeanor that lasts several weeks, and mood changes that disrupt a person’s everyday life, activities or responsibilities. That may be more important in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic because research has indicated an increase in anxiety and depression in recent years.

“These increases in anxiety and depression are particularly pronounced among teens and young adults,” Addy said. “So it’s important to also consider age and life stage, and to know that stressful life circumstances and transitions can also be a time when more mental health challenges arise.”

Addy said there are things employers can do, such as normalizing conversations about wellness, health and mental health, and addressing issues such as anxiety or substance abuse. He said doing so lets employees know they can address their struggles without judgment. Employers also should talk about the need to seek professional help, familiarizing themselves with resources and making that information available to employees.

Addy said employees themselves can be part of the solution, supporting each other and creating an atmosphere where others can comfortably discuss problems. Those actions can be taken in multiple ways, he said; for example, creating areas where employees check in with each other and, like their employers, becoming familiar with support services.