When you think of the word “sustainable,” what’s the first thing that comes to mind? You might envision recycling facilities, groups of people cleaning up trash, or other eco-friendly scenarios. While these things are important, sustainability also applies to businesses and their workforces. In a professional sense, building a sustainable workforce is crucial to avoiding high turnover rates and unnecessary training costs.
If you’re a business owner or manager who sees signs of instability in your workplace, consider creating an action plan to improve the environment. Prioritizing the mental health of workers is a great place to start. Here’s how online therapy can help you reach your goal of building a more sustainable workforce.
What Is a Sustainable Workforce?
The term “sustainable workforce” refers to a workplace that’s supportive and prioritizes employee health and well-being. Mental health is a crucial piece of the puzzle when building a more sustainable workforce. More businesses are learning that it pays to invest in their employees’ mental health.
When employees feel that their mental health is valued and supported, they tend to have higher job satisfaction and increased productivity. Companies that treat their employees well often enjoy a reduced turnover rate and find it easier to attract top talent.
How Online Therapy Helps Build Sustainable Workforces
More professionals are realizing how beneficial therapy can be for coping with the stresses of work and becoming more emotionally resilient. However, there are still too many workers who are struggling with poor mental health because they’re over-stressed and don’t know how to handle workplace pressures. Businesses can help employees improve their mental wellness by normalizing mental health discussions and including mental health resources in their benefits package.
Companies that offer access to mental health services should cater to the needs and preferences of workers. It’s easier for many people to receive therapy online than it is to meet with a therapist in person. Busy schedules, commute times, and fear of being seen meeting with a therapist are common roadblocks to getting much-needed therapy. Therefore, providing convenient employee access to online therapy is a thoughtful step for your business to take. Here are some of the specific ways online therapy can help you build a sustainable workforce.
Helps Employees Develop Resilience
Online therapy helps employees develop resilience and mental toughness. A skilled online therapist knows how to teach techniques that build emotional strength and help workers recover quickly after setbacks. Mentally resilient professionals tend to adapt better to challenges and make better decisions even in stressful scenarios.
Reduces Burnout and Turnover Rate
When employees don’t know how to manage workplace stress efficiently, they’re more likely to succumb to burnout. As every business owner knows, burnout is a profit-killer that can cause turnover rates to skyrocket. On the other hand, when employees learn during therapy how to manage stressors in healthy ways, they’re less likely to get overwhelmed and quit.
Increases Productivity and Engagement
When you have a team of mentally healthy employees working for you, the workplace atmosphere tends to be positive and productive. Mental well-being naturally leads to higher engagement levels and increased output. Workers who receive mental and emotional healthcare from an online therapist tend to feel more satisfied at work. This often translates to increased effort and greater personal investment in the company’s success.
Improves Teamwork and Communication
Teamwork and communication are two crucial components of a sustainable workforce. However, if your employees feel disgruntled and mistreated, they’re less likely to work favorably with each other. By prioritizing the mental well-being of your team members through therapy and other mental healthcare services, you can help them build healthier workplace relationships. This, in turn, can lead to more collaborative teams that work together in greater harmony with less drama.
Attracts and Retains Top Talent
Word tends to travel quickly within industry channels, which means your company’s reputation for either neglecting or supporting mental health will probably get around. To attract and retain top talent, it’s crucial to make sure job hunters know you take mental wellness seriously. Help your employees get the therapy they need, and they may provide free positive marketing for your business in the form of word-of-mouth recommendations.
Fewer Sick Days
It’s no secret that mental health and physical health are closely related. People who are depressed, anxious, or suffering from other mental health issues are more likely to get sick and miss work. This can lead to decreased productivity, missed deadlines, and lower profits for your company. On the other hand, employees who regularly see a therapist for their mental health concerns may have fewer sick days.
Building a sustainable workforce is a worthy goal that can ultimately help your company save money and retain top talent. If you’re ready to make a positive change in your workplace dynamics, consider starting with online therapy. Offering this crucial service to your employees can help improve their mental resilience, reduce burnout and sick days, and increase teamwork and productivity. It can also reduce your turnover rate, leading to significant costs related to hiring and training. To sum up, putting your employees’ mental health needs first can help you build a sustainable, successful business.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — Cover Photo Title: Corporate Wellness: woman taking care of herself in a quick 5min break Cover Photo Credit: yanalya
