Your how-to: Setting up a system for mental health suggestions in your workplace
Setting up a system for mental health suggestions in your workplace is essentially creating a channel for employees to express their concerns, feedback, or suggestions related to mental health policies, wellbeing initiatives or support systems in a confidential and secure manner. This is a crucial step towards promoting a mentally healthy working environment in alignment with Safe Work Australia's national policy on mental health at work.
The system primarily operates on anonymity to protect employees who might not want their identity revealed. The system should encompass diverse aspects like counselling services, training for mental health first aid, flexible work policies, stress management, and the integration of mental health into the overall health and safety management system. By establishing this system, organisations not only fulfil the legal stipulation as per the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 but also display a commitment towards enhancing employee wellbeing.
The system cultivates an environment where employees feel heard, have the courage to voice their concerns, and are motivated to contribute to the overall wellbeing of their colleagues and themselves. Due to the sensitive nature of the information shared within this system, it is paramount to have a designated team, preferably within the HR department, managing the process with professionalism and empathy.
Step by step instructions
Understand the Importance of a Mental Health Suggestions System: Recognise the value of promoting a mentally healthy workplace environment. Understanding why you are setting up this system is vital. Remember, employee wellbeing significantly contributes to productivity, engagement, and overall business success.
Implement Anonymity Measures: Design the system to incorporate a sense of anonymity. Employees are more likely to express concerns and give suggestions when their identity is kept private. Research and consider various measures to ensure anonymity such as anonymous physical suggestion boxes, online forms, or third-party apps.
Integrate the System into Health & Safety Management: Concurrently, work on integrating mental health into your overall health and safety management system. Just like physical health and safety, mental well-being should be pivotal in your risk assessment and policy-making strategies.
Comply with Legislation: Finally, ensure your mental health suggestions system complies with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and aligns with the national policy of Safe Work Australia on mental health at work. Compliance will secure legal protection and affirm your commitment to employee wellbeing.
Establish an HR Team to Handle the System: Due to the sensitivity of mental health issues, identify an appropriate team within your Human Resources department who will manage this process. This team should be trained in handling delicate matters empathetically and professionally.
Consider Diverse Services: Bolster your system with diverse mental health initiatives. Consider including counselling services, mental health first aid training, stress management programmes, and flexible work policies. All these aspects should contribute to a holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing at work.
Engage With Employees: Kick-start the system with an awareness drive. Use this opportunity to break the stigma around mental health and to encourage employee engagement with the system. Cultivate an environment where employees feel confident contributing towards their own and their colleagues' wellbeing.
Remember to review and update the system regularly to meet the evolving needs of your employees and workplace.
Use this template to implement
To ensure you can execute seamlessly, download the implementation template.
Pitfalls to avoid
One common mistake is ignorance about mental health. Understanding the various types of mental health issues and their effects is crucial before setting up a system. Education and awareness among the managers and employees about the importance of mental health is necessary. Simultaneously, employees should be trained to identify signs of mental health issues in themselves or colleagues, and to utilise the suggestion system for necessary avoidance or intervention.
Providing anonymity is core to the success of mental health suggestions. Employees might hesitate to open up about their mental health issues due to social stigma and fear of judgement. Hence, ensuring a confidential platform where staff could freely express their concerns, is crucial.
One should ensure that your mental health suggestions system complies with Australian workplace laws. In Australia, the Health and Safety Act imposes a duty on employers to ensure psychological as well as physical health at work. Any mechanisms put in place should be compliant with these regulations.
A good mental health suggestions system will fail to perform if it isn't backed by adequate support from management. It is essential to have a supportive management that is ready to implement constructive suggestions about mental health in the workplace.
Regular follow-up is an essential part of any effective suggestion system. Neglecting to implement, consider, or acknowledge the suggestions makes employees feel undervalued and can lead to diminished engagement with the system.
Your suggestions system should align with professional mental health guidance. Don't solely rely on the input of well-meaning managers or staff members, who may not have professional knowledge about mental health. Collaborate with experts to ensure employees receive the best possible advice and strategies.