Mental health and employee well-being: Prioritize mental health

The concept of mental health and wellbeing is taking center stage as an essential requirement for employers. The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has emerged as a pioneer in identifying and advocating for this important trend. As industry leaders grapple with the challenge of burnout and the growing importance of fostering the overall well-being of employees, focusing on mental health and well-being remains a top priority. This is explored in an excerpt from the HSMAI Foundation Special Report: “The State of Hotel Sales, Marketing and Revenue Optimization Talent 2023-2024.”

The leadership paradigm has evolved significantly. The traditional concept of “soft skills” is now being replaced by what is called “human skills.” These human skills include empathy, communication, and a deep understanding of employees’ mental and emotional needs. Today’s successful leaders recognize that these skills are not just optional, but critical to developing successful and engaged teams. In an era of a multi-generational workforce, recognizing and valuing the physical and mental health of your employees while respecting their individuality is key to success. Fostering a workplace culture that prioritizes employees’ personal growth and well-being helps ensure that employees are not only satisfied, but able to excel in their roles.

This report aims to shed light on the current state of mental health in the workplace using the latest data from LYRA 2023 State of Workforce Mental Health, The Conference Board, Employee Benefit News, Hospitality Net, and more. (HSMAI, 2023) (Srini Pillay, 2023) (Raila Health, 2023) (Raila Health, 2023)

Employee mental health

Based on the Lyra 2023 State of Workforce Mental Health report, depression and anxiety disorders are recognized as the most common mental illnesses in the workplace. These situations have a huge impact on employee productivity, engagement, and overall performance. Additionally, a significant proportion of employees show signs of burnout and stress, exhibiting difficulty concentrating, dissatisfaction, and poor work relationships.

Here are the top five insights from the 2023 survey.

1. Most workers face mental health issues, but many don’t get help for a variety of reasons.
2. Many workers struggle to receive proper care.
3. More people are discussing mental health in the workplace, driving a culture change.
4. Administrators lack the necessary mental health resources.
5. Employee stress and burnout are increasing, demonstrating the need for better job design.

Lyra’s report highlights that nearly 20% of employees experience diagnosable mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders. Between 16% and 68% of employees with these symptoms do not seek treatment for reasons including confidentiality concerns, fear of negative career repercussions, and the stigma associated with mental health. The report recommends implementing a range of approaches to addressing mental health support in the workplace.

1. Listen to your employees and encourage conversations about mental health.
2. Ensure access to effective care.
3. Unlock access to care for serious mental health conditions.
4. Supporting the mental health of parents and children.
5. Provide managers with the mental health training and resources they need.
6. To combat burnout, design better working conditions.

How mental health affects productivity

A study by The Conference Board (Srini Pillay, 2023) highlights that mental health issues have a significant impact on employee productivity. The survey found that around a third of employees feel their levels of mental health, employee engagement and sense of belonging are lower than they were just six months ago. Traditional approaches to treating mental health are not as effective as intended, with only 29% of employees finding them helpful. The survey results were echoed by executives, with just 25% finding it helpful.

A Conference Board report identifies personalized treatment using AI as a potential way to address mental health crises. Take Bank of America, for example, whose AI-driven virtual reality treatment platform helps reduce feelings of stress and anxiety measured over six months.

Factors identified as contributing to mental health problems include:

• Increased work hours (48% of workers who reported poor mental health were working more than 50 hours a week, and 49% of women said increased workload/hours were having a negative impact on their mental health) (compared to 39% of men)
• Heavy workload (50% of Millennials say their workload or hours are negatively impacting their mental health, compared to 48% of Gen Xers and 40% of Baby Boomers) ,
• poor workplace communication (42%);
• reduced ability to balance work and personal life demands;
• time spent in meetings (40%);
• and toxic workplaces (26%).

This report (Srini Pillay, 2023) discusses the importance of destigmatizing mental health in the workplace and highlights the role of managers in this regard. We focus on building a collaborative culture where employees feel safe asking for help when needed. It estimates the cost of the recession to Fortune 500 companies, with productivity losses due to absenteeism amounting to his $210.5 billion. By investing in workplace mental health care, employers could save up to $8,000 per employee per year. Mental Health in the Hospitality Industry: According to a Hospitality Net article (HSMAI, 2023), employees in the hospitality industry seem to suffer from mental health issues more than average. Stress such as irregular work hours, customer service pressures, and lack of job security contribute to higher levels of depression and anxiety among these workers. Due to industry-specific circumstances, hospitality industry employees face unique mental health challenges. The uncertainty and stress associated with roles in hotels, restaurants, and other service-driven jobs can contribute to depression and increased anxiety levels. Unconventional working hours, high pressure, and the need to maintain a hospitable attitude while dealing with customers are all significant mental health stressors. The report suggests there is an urgent need for support, training and awareness to manage these effectively.

Employees want:

• Work-life balance and manageable stress.
• A tool to assess your own mental health when deciding whether to stay or leave.
• It especially helps early-career employees feel extremely vulnerable.
• It’s a rewarding and meaningful career that allows you to take on the challenge without sacrificing your health or life balance.
• A leader who shows empathy.

What you need to do:

• Recalibrate to be guest-centric and meet guest expectations regarding health, safety, and well-being.
• Highlight career path opportunities along with personal and professional growth to help you build your talent pipeline and retain valuable team members.
• Monitor, measure, and prioritize staff health to create a healthy workplace and team.
• Review your employee engagement surveys to ensure you are asking questions related to health and well-being.

Today, employers must prioritize mental health as the core of a healthy and productive workplace. This requires a comprehensive, multifaceted approach, including supportive workplace policies, open conversations about mental health, and accessible mental health resources. By addressing workplace mental health, companies also invest in productivity, employee satisfaction and retention, contributing to a more win-win environment for all stakeholders. Focusing on mental health in the workplace is not just a trend, but a necessary change towards developing a healthy and productive workforce.

Important points

• Employee health and mental health have become a top priority for today’s leadership to increase workforce productivity and resilience.
• Fostering a workplace culture that prioritizes personal growth and employee well-being is part of the lifestyle contract that today’s employees value.
• Leaders need to ensure that employee engagement surveys provide insight into employee well-being.

To read more about top talent trends, download of HSMAI Foundation Special Report: The State of Hotel Sales, Marketing, and Revenue Optimization Talent in 2023-2024.

This article was originally published on HSMAI.