The articles swirling around the Internet for the last year are grounded in the belief that small business owners need to think about employee mental health. It is beneficial to consider your employees’ mental health in these unprecedented times. Prolonged isolation and remote working have created the perfect climate for mental health deterioration. Who is looking out for the mental health of small business owners with so much riding on their shoulders?
Keeping people employed and your own family fed is a soul-crushing job when you are doing everything to stay open for the last year. If we were to talk a poll of small business owners who have lost sleep on most nights just thinking about their businesses this year, we are sure the numbers would be huge. It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.
Having a small business is stressful enough. Having employees is added stress. Worrying about being employed creates some mental health issues if you have to do it for a long time. Mental health and small business owners were a conversation before the pandemic. A poll of small business owners and entrepreneurs revealed some troubling findings. Many of them experience anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation. Add this added tension, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Getting honest about your mental health and putting things in place to deal with it could be of the things that save your small business. Ignoring your mental health, thinking you are sparing others something is a lose-lose situation. It is honesty that frees your employees to think about their mental health and take steps to improve it.
Step number 1 in improving your mental health is admitting when it is not good. Some of the symptoms of poor mental health are:
If you recognized one or more of the symptoms on this list, you could be a small business owner with poor mental health. Step 2 is don’t blame yourself. It should not surprise you to know that most people are feeling this way as well. Poor mental health is not a sign that something is wrong with you. It is a sign that you need to do something about how you feel about what is going on around you.
Many of those who struggle with mental health have felt relief with taking care of themselves physically. Exercise and healthy eating are two ways you can improve your mental outlook on life quickly.
Too many people have reported that extensive remote working has increased their alcohol consumption. Putting the liquor bottles away for a while will also go a long way in improving your mental health. Alcohol is a depressant. Pouring booze on poor mental health is going to increase poor mental health, not help it.
Talking to a mental health professional has helped many get over the hump they are feeling right now. Smart small business owners have sought online or Telehealth sessions with a mental health clinician to help them talk through the difficulties they face emotionally with running a business in a pandemic. Teletherapy also helps small business owners deal with the emotional challenges that hinder their success, in general. Seeking counseling is one of the most proactive steps a small business owner can take in improving their mental health today.
Good mental health is about finding peace of mind. Small group health plans typically eliminate mental health benefits for cost savings. Mental health benefits are a critical piece of overall health. Keeping yourself healthy is about keeping all of the aspects of your in top condition. Your emotional health is the glue that holds it all together.
Many better benefit plans include wellness benefits that allow for gym membership discounts and rebates, along with other tools that will keep you and your employees focused on good mental health. Small business owners need to find benefits solutions that keep themselves and their employees healthy and staying there.
Did you know that PEOs offer the kinds of benefits that include mental health benefits and employee assistance programs? Many small business owners only wish they had these benefits in place for their employees. Working with a PEO allows everyone in the office to get the benefits they deserve and the help they need when they need it most.
If you would like to do more to improve your mental health and the mental health of your valued employees, find out if a PEO is a right choice for your needs. Small business owners can take the right steps to better mental health management but using the proper tools to make it happen. PEOs are an excellent way to make that a reality. Contact us today for a free consultation.
If you’d like to find out more about how PEOs can help you provide great benefits and payroll management at less than you are paying now, contact us today for a free consultation.
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