Today is World Mental Health Day, so it’s only fitting to discuss mental health in the workplace and how employers can ensure employees are happy in their job, both for staff wellness and business sustainability.

A recent study by Slater and Gordon revealed that employees take four days a year off work for mental related issues, e.g. anxiety, stress, seeing a counsellor, however 55% tell their bosses that the leave is for physical ailments. That’s a pretty shocking statistic, more so because of the mentality that employers might not understand the need to psychologically recharge and the worker fears that will be judged, demoted or sacked. Astonishingly, the research also found that 14% of employees who told their boss about their mental health were told to “man up”.
 
The Impact of Work-Related Stress
Quite often people hide challenges they may experience daily. Sometimes they themselves are even unaware as to why they are not working as effectively or productively, which often leads to symptoms being unaddressed and developing into more serious clinical conditions.

If left un-dealt with, these conditions significantly hinder a person’s ability to lead a normal life, which includes doing their job to the best of their potential. The knock-on effect of this not only puts pressure on the individual, but also on their co-workers which results in increased work-related stress across several staff members.

In fact, an overwhelming 70 million workdays each year are lost due to mental health related issues in the UK and Ireland, which costs employers approximately €2.7 billion per year.

Understand Mental Health
Mental health covers a broad spectrum of symptoms which affect every individual differently, therefore it is important to have an overall understanding of how employees are coping in the workplace.

Mental health can often be seen as a weakness. It is not. The Government’s Department of Health states that one of four will experience mental ill health at some point in their lives.  Employers need to support staff members who might be under pressure from mental health, as employees are more likely to stay in work or return to work after a short absence which reduces long term absenteeism in the company. As well as this, employees with positive mental health will be more productive, work well alongside colleagues and adapt to changes that may arise in the workplace.

Improve Mental Health in the Workplace
Change doesn’t happen overnight but announcing the commitment to promoting positive mental health in the workplace is a great place to start. Recognising certain areas of the business which might lead to mental ill health is important, and this can be done through gathering information on employee turnover, staff absence and variations in employee performance.
​
Developing an action plan to normalise the subject and to encourage staff to speak to management about their mental health will ensure improvements aren’t left by the wayside. This could include:

• Identifying why the company is committed to promoting a positive working environment and what the objectives are to this plan
• Organising different activities and significant messages to aid in educating staff and managers as well as removing any stigma around the topic
• Developing and implementing support for staff who may be experiencing mental ill health
• Producing a mental health policy which includes information on how staff get support and information when required

It is vital for managers to be trained in spotting mental ill health symptoms and how to support staff members should they require it. Having the confidence to approach such personal matters is invaluable. Once everything is in place, inform employees on what the company is doing and ask for feedback on possible improvements. One to ones, team meetings or staff surveys are a great way to get staff member thoughts. Above all, let your staff know support is there. Many people who suffer mental ill health isolate themselves and try to work harder which makes the situation deteriorate. Don’t let them fight stress at work alone.
 
Mental Health Apps of Interest
Below are some mental health apps which may be helpful to both managers and employees. These can be offered through an employer program or accessed by individuals.

1. Woebot – Think through situations with step-by-step guidance from Woebot using methods from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
2. Thrive – A range of support in one app which includes relaxation techniques, thought training, sleep improvement and goal progress tracking.
3. Headspace – Hundreds of themed mediation sessions on stress, sleep, focus and anxiety.
4. Unmind – A B2B workplace mental health platform which empowers organisations and employees to measurably improve their mental wellbeing.

It’s fair to say that, in recent years, the majority of workplaces have become less conservative in their way of operating. With people working remotely, flexitime and generally a less formal office space, dress codes have become more relaxed. Bar a small minority of industries, the typical stiff, white collar and tie or pencil skirt has become a thing of the past. However, recent surveys amongst millennials found that this might not necessarily be what they want, even though 38% of 25-35 year olds have been told to smarten up their look by management.

A survey by Ranstad, a global staffing firm, reported that 63% of millennials surveyed prefer dressing up for work as it increases their performance due to improved confidence. In contrast, only 51% of older workers agree with this, alluding to the fact that perhaps confidence comes with age.

So, are enforced dress codes becoming an outdated practice? Research, carried out by Xpert HR, of close to 500 employers’ policies showed that while workwear policies are in place, over half bend the rules for dress down days or charity days, and some big companies on Wall Street have had a complete overhaul of their dress code policy.

In fact, Goldman Sachs, one of the largest banks in America, broadcast that it has relaxed its dress code in a bid to attract new top talent, which backs up further Ranstad survey findings that 33% of millennials would turn down a job offer if they were required to adhere to a conservative dress code.
 
Why You Need a Clear Dress Code
These days, employers may be more inclined to forgo the formal dress code entirely as it seems restrictive and old fashioned, however failing to establish any sort of guidelines can lead to confusion and uncertainty over what is acceptable to wear. Whilst 55% of managers are more concerned about their employees’ performance over what they wear, 28% of workers have actually felt uncomfortable due to a co-worker’s outfit being too revealing.
 
What to Include in a Dress Code Policy
Even if a company does not want to enforce a strict dress code, a policy containing guidelines should still be drawn up and made available to employees. These should include the following:

Pointers on how employees should present themselves -

• Employees are to be clean and well groomed
• Clothing must be work-appropriate – active wear and/or outdoor clothing are not permitted unless working in those environments
• Clothing must portray professionalism and should not be too revealing
• Overly branded clothes or those containing offensive slogans should not be worn
• Clothes should be clean and in good condition – obvious rips, tears and holes aren’t allowed.

A business dress code which describes the overall feel of the company, such as, business/business casual/smart casual or casual. This section should also include any potential situations where the general dress code may vary, for example at a formal event or when meeting clients.

Disciplinary consequences if the policy is not adhered to. These would be at the managers discretion and could include sending a worker home to change or more severe repercussions if the employee continually violates the dress code.
 
Whether management decides to enforce a strict dress code or allow casual-wear, the goal should be the same: to allow staff members to dress comfortably but appropriately, whilst at the same time enabling them to still showcase their personality.