Section2: Supportive Environment

Step 1: Leadership support

Leadership accountability and support is crucial to the success of any worksite health promotion program. Effective leadership believes that a healthy, productive workforce is a core component of their business' strategies. One of the first steps in creating successful initiatives that promote emotional wellness is establishing leadership commitment.

PDF Leading by Example
PDF Value of Mentally Healthy Workforce 
 

Step 2: Visible Promotion

Website: 41 Ways to Improve Mental Health of Your Workplace
Website: Why Mental Health in the Workplace Matters  

Step 3: Supportive Action

There are many steps businesses can take to establish a supportive environment for your employees. Your work in developing a supportive environment will show your employees that you value health and that you are willing to assist them in their efforts of health behavior change.
Some effective ways to create a supportive environment include creating flexible work schedules in order to insure work/life balance, incorporate break times into the workday, implement stress free work environments, and provide opportunities for stress relief.

How to Change the Organization to Prevent Job Stress according to the CDC website:

• Ensure that the workload is in line with workers' capabilities and resources.
• Design jobs to provide meaning, stimulation, and opportunities for workers to use their skills.
• Clearly define workers' roles and responsibilities.
• Give workers opportunities to participate in decisions and actions affecting their jobs.
• Improve communications-reduce uncertainty about career development and future employment prospects.
• Provide opportunities for social interaction among workers.
• Establish work schedules that are compatible with demands and responsibilities outside the job.

-American Psychologist
 

Website: Communication in the Workplace
Website: Importance of Communication 
PDF Flexible Schedule  

 Step 4: Physical Environment

Providing employees the option to turn off fluorescent lights in their offices and bring in floor or table lamps.

• Provide a quiet break room or an enclosed office for employees to go to when they need a break.
• Providing partitions, room dividers, or otherwise enhancing soundproofing and visual barriers between workspaces or, alternatively, removing barriers in the work environments where people need to feel less isolated/more connected to colleagues.
• Providing a private space for employees to make phone calls during the day for personal or professional support.
• Allowing workers to consume non-alcoholic drinks (ex. Water, juice) at their work stations throughout the work day (e.g., if needed due to medication side effects).

Step 5: Establish Policy

PDF Mental Health Policy
PDF Employee Assistance Program Policies
PDF Sample Matter of Respect Policy
PDF Sample Workplace Bullying Policy