Wellness

Corporate messages and social media outreach may be well intended, but diversity experts say companies need to do more to support Black employees in a time of crisis.

Employee mental health is a workplace crisis, with frontline workers struggling with increased anxiety and depression during the coronavirus pandemic.

With an eye on boosting internal mobility and promoting strong mental health, more employers are investing in learning and development.

Leading through this crisis requires empathy for what people are going through now and understanding how living through this crisis will shape people’s expectations around work and non-work lives.

Around 63% of workers say their company could do more to support their emotional and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Within this group, 22% said their company’s response was “barely adequate,” “a disaster” or “non-existent.”

Demand has soared for mental health services as bank employees put in long hours, supervise kids while working at home and endure personal crises. Citi, BofA, Fifth Third and others are getting creative to help them decompress during the pandemic.

Those who are bereaved need comfort from each other and extra effort needs to be made to reach out and encourage employees to take advantage of their EAPs.

Social isolation of colleagues who may be grieving is a unique part of the crisis that is adding more mental strain on the workplace.

Managers and leaders should plan monthly reintegration-related check-ins to determine whether everyone is on the same page about returning to work.

Getting back to work requires thoughtful planning to ease employee fears and optimize mental and physical health.

With a more age diverse workforce, employers are finding ways to cater to different priorities and communication styles by generation.

Now is a time for HR managers to reassess healthcare plans and make important changes, health insurance expert says.

The stress caused by high bills and medical debt can increase employees’ risk of a range of physical and mental health problems.

For advisers and their clients, the crisis has ushered in a new era for mental health, caregiving and telemedicine platforms

For a veterinarian, the emotional aspects and financial strain of their profession can have a lasting impact on their mental health.

“After my husband died, I couldn’t even tie my shoes,” says Emma Payne, founder of Grief Coach. “The fact that I was expected to go back to work was unthinkable.”

One in five people will experience a mental illness within a given year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, 70% never seek treatment.

Now is an “opportunity to advance the conversation around mental health and well-being,” says Aetna’s head of behavioral health.

A great redistribution of knowledge workers is afoot, says entrepreneur and founder of Russian Exchange Bank Alex Konanykhin, CEO of TransparentBusiness, who also says the coronavirus pandemic is producing a few winners (Zoom) and a huge swath of economic losers.