Do you offer mental health days? If not, you might be damaging the employee experience

Poor mental health costs the Australian economy around $70 billion every year. According to the World Health Organisation, 15% of the world’s working-age adults live with a mental disorder, and 12 billion working days are lost every year to depression and anxiety alone.

Employers are key to helping promote mental health in society. One way is to offer mental health days, or as some employers call it, personal leave or wellbeing days. 

As an employer, offering mental health days is a way for you to show support for employee wellbeing. It demonstrates that you understand the importance of mental health and that you’re committed to creating a positive and healthy workplace culture. 

Ways that mental health days can boost employee experience

When employees are given the opportunity to take time off to prioritise their mental health, it can improve their overall employee experience in many ways.

Reduced stress

Taking a mental health day can help employees reduce stress and prevent burnout. This can improve their mental wellbeing so that they are more productive and engaged when they return to work.

Improved work-life balance

Offering mental health days can help employees achieve a better work-life balance. It shows that the employer values their personal life and understands the importance of taking time off to recharge.

Increased job satisfaction

When employees feel supported by their employer, it can increase their job satisfaction. They are more likely to feel engaged, valued and motivated to do their best work.

Enhanced loyalty

Employers that prioritise employee wellbeing and offer mental health days are more likely to retain their employees. This can enhance loyalty and improve overall retention rates.

Making mental health days the norm in the workplace

Unfortunately, there is little data to determine how many Australians take advantage of mental health days, as this falls under personal or sick leave. However, it’s evident that Australian employers are increasingly offering mental health programs and resources to support their employees.

Promoting good mental health in the workplace should be part of the fabric of any organisation. These are the WHO recommendations that employers can use to create a healthier workplace.

Leadership training

Leaders need to recognise and respond to employees experiencing emotional distress. They need to build interpersonal skills, like open communication and active listening, and foster a better understanding of how job stressors affect mental health, as well as how they can be managed.

Employee training

Employees must be educated about mental health to reduce any existing stigma. Training can help them identify any warning signs among colleagues who may be impacted by poor mental health.

Interventions for individuals 

Employers should provide employees with the tools to help manage their own stress and reduce mental health symptoms, including psychosocial interventions and opportunities for leisure-based physical activity.

As well as offering in-house initiatives, employers are also taking advantage of external organisations that help workplaces promote mental health, like The Push-Up Challenge. This not-for-profit was designed to raise awareness and engage and educate people about mental health, as well as raise funds for charity. The challenge is to complete a specified number of push-ups every day for the month of June.

Wrapping up

People often talk about the drastic impact of the Covid pandemic on society's mental health. Statistics show that after the pandemic, 4 in 5 people reported psychological distress, compared to 1 in 5 prior to the pandemic. 

The reality is that mental health issues have long been a factor in our working lives and will continue to be until every employer makes mental health a priority within their organisation.

Offering mental health days can be an attractive benefit for job seekers and can help employers attract and retain talent. It shows that the employer values employee wellbeing and is committed to creating a positive and supportive workplace culture. In a competitive job market, offering mental health days can be a way for employers to stand out and attract candidates who prioritise their mental health and work-life balance.

Looking for more insights about talent attraction and engagement? Check out our employer resources.