Chances are, as a business owner, you’re more than aware that employees are not going to deal with being miserable, especially if they’re barely getting paid enough to survive. While you may have a dream to have a one-of-a-kind business, they have a dream of working a job they feel fulfilled in that keeps them financially stable.
So why should an employee stick around if they’re not getting that right? The Great Recession has helped show that employees are what make a business, and if they’re wronged, they’re going to leave. It’s perfectly valid and right. In fact, one of the biggest reasons that employees leave is thanks to declining mental health. So, if you want to ensure that your employees are happy, you need to make sure that they’re getting support when it comes to their mental health. So, here is what you can do!
Ensure They’re Getting Enough Sleep
While you can technically only do so much, you can still have an impact. Oftentimes, employees get less sleep due to their job. If you or others are calling and texting outside of work hours, then that’s a major issue. Are you giving them last-minute assignments that basically need to be done the next thing in the morning?
Yeah, something like that is also an issue. You can’t expect your employees to have work and life balance, as well as health balance, if all your company is doing is expecting them to work long hours, reach out to them outside of office hours, and expect them to do things such as at the last minute. They can’t get sleep, and it’s only going to lead to less productivity anyways.
Does Your Work Culture Offer Support?
This is a very important question that you shouldn’t ask yourself but ask your employees, especially those who are lower on the pyramid. The right kind of support can make a big difference for your employees. It can give them the tools they need to perform their jobs well and help them grow in their roles. If they don’t feel support, then why should they even be around, right? Whenever you recruit the best employees, you need to make sure you keep them happy. Employees just won’t stick around if they feel a lack of support.
There are so many different ways to show support, from praise to programs. In fact, why not look into something like an employee assistance program for everyone? Your employees need to know that they can turn to some type of help at their job if they’re struggling, especially if it’s mentally. Let them know that in this company culture, everyone supports each other.
Encourage Open Communication
Your employees need to know that they can speak up without getting fired or facing any sort of trouble. Sadly, so many employees from all sorts of companies, from Uber to MoviePass, have gotten into trouble because of other people’s (unprofessional) poor conduct towards them, especially women. Communication needs to be allowed; employees need to be allowed to speak up without punishment. If you can’t allow this or criticism, then it’s apparent that this is a toxic workplace. So, if you want to avoid toxicity, make sure communication is freely allowed.
