As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, workers are returning to their jobs with increased mental distress. In fact, 40% of all Americans said they will be returning to their jobs with an increased level of mental stress. Employers will begin to discover that increased mental health issues may lead to more safety issues which in turn may lead to Connecticut workers’ compensation claims.
There is good news for employers and employees alike. There are some steps that employers can take to help limit a difficult return to the workforce for employees facing increased mental distress. The National Safety Council (NSC) has teamed up with NORC at the University of Chicago to give employers steps they can take to help improve conditions and better address mental health issues before they become safety concerns in the workplace. The NSC made the following recommendations;
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Train leaders, managers, and supervisors to better understand the effects of mental distress on employees and to help them better support employees who are experiencing an increased mental stress level.
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Ensure that the human resources department of a company has a clear and compassionate policy relating to mental health distress and puts in place supports for employees experiencing this type of distress.
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Provide education and training around mental health for employees so they can recognize and be supported when experiencing this type of health concern.
It is impossible for employers to completely eliminate the mental distress that employees feel when they are at work. Work, by it’s general nature, can be stressful and can add mental distress to an already distressing world. The work by the National Safety Council indicates that there are some things that employers can do to help minimize the impact of mental health issues on both employees and the businesses that they work for. Increasing supports and compassion are two very important ways that businesses can be better stewards of their employees mental health and also work to avoid additional Connecticut workers’ compensation claims.
If you’ve been feeling some mental burden from being at work and it has led to safety issues and possible injury, you may want to speak with a board certified attorney to help review your case. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will work to protect your long-term interests.
