Many people speak of the Work/Life Balance and how work can affect people’s home life. As someone who runs their own business, and no doubt takes work home physically and mentally, it is something no doubt you are aware of. But as someone who has people working for them should you also be thinking about the opposite – do you have employees, whose home life for one reason or another may be affecting their performance at work. As an employer what should be your response, let’s have a look at this, and see what you think.
A more holistic approach
Many recent studies have suggested that pay is not the main driving force behind salaries anymore, mental health first aid has certainly come to the fore especially after the restrictive controls that were imposed during the fight against Covid. But this is not the only area, many more families have both adults working so childcare needs may need to be added to the list, pensions benefits and enhanced sick leave are other areas.
Sometimes it can be something as simple as realising that someone is more withdrawn and not their usual self, the quality of their work may be affected, or it could be simply that they seem to be the first one to volunteer when there is the chance of overtime. Whilst being thankful that a volunteer is always better than someone who must “have their arm twisted”, you also need to think to yourself are they short of money or perhaps more seriously do they not want to go back home.
So, what can you do?
Why not bring in employee assistance programmes, with posters and leaflets in the rest room covering counselling for legal, financial and health worries, information from the NHS on weight loss, alcohol reduction and of course have people trained as mental health first aiders or even trainers in mindfulness. It could also be that you are on an industrial estate or similar site that means you can arrange for discounted fitness, childcare, or other local facilities.
Another way of building a good team spirit is in supporting local charities. Nowadays teambuilding with business games has often been replaced by taking time away from the workplace together but doing something where the usual hierarchy can get turned upside-down as a different skill set is required. Be it providing a team for a charity’s Sports event or going as a team out into the countryside with the Wildlife Trust and helping them – for example.
Sometimes all you need to do is to make sure there are posters and leaflets covering support organisations for menopause, andropause and domestic abuse, other times you may need subtly to draw someone’s attention or find the opportunity for a quiet word to make sure things In their world are as well as they say.
There was a time when these were taboo subjects within the workplace, but in focussing on these issues and showing you are an employer that values your employees as people and not just units that get a job done you will show you are focussing on their wellbeing. That will be repaid with improving attendance, performance, and productivity, and giving them the opportunity to tell their friends your company is a great place to work.
If there are issues on here that you still feel you would have difficulty discussing with staff, that is where we can come in and help you. We are engaged with organisations which mean employees can contact people to help with issues safe in the knowledge that nobody at work knows, because it is something that embarrasses them. But they will still be delighted that you provided the way, if you would like to chat through any of this, we are at the end of the phone waiting for your call.
