The high demand of workload in the employment force means that people spend more office hours than before. With the current state of the labor force, it seems impossible to juggle work and other aspects of life. Often, the situation leads to declining mental health which employers often ignore.
Research from the Mental Health Foundation discovered that a third of their respondents are unhappy while working. In connection with this, the interviewees said that long office hours often leave them irritated, depressed, or anxious.
Expert studies also established the link between depression and absenteeism. In an inquiry, Dr. Debra Lerner concluded that work stressors increase the levels of depression. She also said that depression symptoms increased the chance of absenteeism and impaired productivity.
Typically, the laws state that it is the employer’s responsibility to check on the well-being of their staff. However, some companies continue to ignore the pressing problem among their employees.
Sara Evans-Lacko and Martin Knapp from the London School of Economics and Political Science previously investigated the presence of employer support in various countries. They primarily targeted employees diagnosed with depression and how managers deal with the situation.
The results showed that Asian bosses often stray from people with mental health problems. Chinese and South Korean employers exhibited a low capacity to handle their employees’ struggles. On the other hand, 67 percent of Mexican managers said they reach out to their workers.
Depression is a disability that the law covers. In the U.S., the Americans with Disabilities Act protects those who have mental health problems. They are entitled to day-offs for medical treatment, flextime, and job sharing. It emphasizes the worker’s need to prioritize their health before anything else.
The Mental Health Foundation also highlighted promoting a culture of openness between the managers and the staff. It means that employers should make themselves ready when an employee discusses their struggles and needs while working.
The organization also added that bosses should take time to monitor their personnel. Through this strategy, they could keep track of work habits to readily assess a problem when they notice a decline in performance.
However, workers should also speak up when they think that the workload is too overwhelming. When given a chance to have a break, they should take the opportunity to relax as to avoid getting burned out the next time they clock in for work.
The situation in the labor force shows that employers need to support their staff as much as possible. Through employer support, the risk of stress and depression lessens and workers become more enthusiastic to enter the office.
