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Prioritizing employee wellbeing is essential. Mental health challenges, emotional stress, and struggles with substance use can affect anyone, regardless of position or experience. And, chances are, it is or will effect members of your team and impact your business.
We spoke with two individuals from The Village Family Service Center: Gabby Hagen, MS, LPCC, and EAP Clinic Supervisor and Susan Williams, MAEd, Gallup Certified Strenghts Coach and Village Trainer to get insight into how to create a work environment that prioritizes employee well being.
The Clinical Perspective with Gabby Hagen
About Gabby Hagen
“As the Employee Assistance Program Clinical Supervisor at The Village, I provide counseling services at the Fargo location and support other EAP Counselors. I have a holistic view of health and work to incorporate different aspects of wellness into my counseling. My goal is to create an open and nonjudgmental atmosphere to create a safe space for clients to work on their individual goals. I received my bachelor’s degree in Health, Wellness, and Fitness from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. From there, I went on to get my master’s degree in Counseling from the University of Mary.”
Q: What are some things employers should be doing to make sure that they’re setting up an office that places a high importance on employee well-being?
A: Having resources available for employees, such as an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), is important. Another important aspect of this is employees’ need to be reminded it’s there as well, especially when there are mental health concerns that come up.
I also think training for supervisors on how to support employees when they’re struggling is important.
Q: What are some common mistakes you see employers make when it comes to creating an environment that is supportive of employee wellbeing?
A: Not making employees aware of resources or where employees can find access to them is a mistake I see employers make.
Not having those trainings for supervisors on how to support employees is a mistake. It’s not the supervisor’s role to be an employee’s counselor or provide any sort of therapy, but knowing how to be supportive and knowing how to handle difficult conversations is important.
It’s also important to normalize things. We all go through struggles and people need to feel like they’re not alone.
Q: How should someone be supportive in those situations?
A: I think by just listening in a non judgmental way. I think validating the employee’s experience and asking them what they need is important. Asking if there’s anything you can do to support them is important. A lot of times, employees, or people in general, aren’t looking for someone to fix the issue—they just want to feel understood and heard and know that someone is there and that they have support.
Q: How are employees impacted when they aren’t in a good environment at work? What kind of things do you see?
A: We definitely see an increase in mental health concerns. A lot of people spend a very significant amount of time at work. Many people spend more time at work and with their coworkers than they do at home with their families. So, the environment is huge. When there isn’t a good environment, we see increases in depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. I think we see decreased productivity. When people aren’t feeling supported by their employer, I think there can sometimes be resentment. I also think it can cause conflict in the workplace. I think it decreases cohesion within a team and in a workplace. There can also be more absenteeism.
Q: Is it appropriate to approach an employee you think is struggling?
A: I definitely think it’s appropriate. We can’t push them to tell us anything, but if you are noticing something, it’s a good idea to ask, ‘How are you doing?’ or ‘Is everything okay?’ It’s very possible to check in a gentle way that lets the person know that they don’t have to share anything they don’t want to, but that you are there and you care.
Q: What are warning signs employers should look for in employees?
A: Any changes in the employee. Their mood might seem a little bit different or maybe they’re making more mistakes. Maybe they are having a hard time balancing their workload. Maybe they’re more irritable or maybe they’re having more conflict with co-workers. I think there can be a lot of signs. I don’t know that there are specific warning signs, but I think if you are attuned to your employees, there are a lot of times when you’ll just pick up on something being a little off. They may also be very direct and tell you they’re having a hard time sleeping, or that they’re having issues at home, or whatever it might be.