How Business Owners Support Mental Wellness

Entrepreneurs and business owners can support the mental well-being of their employees and residents. It’s worth noting that most Fortune 500 corporations sponsor in-house, or community-led organizations that focus on mental health.

But even the smallest companies can play a role in the effort to provide services to those who need assistance with challenges like addiction, depression, and autism. Some businesses create employee assistance programs for their workers, but there are numerous ways to approach the challenge. 

Owners in all industries can help young workers get college loans by serving as cosigners. Other common methods for supporting long-term mental health takes a similarly preventive approach, like offering flex time, paid time off, and telecommuting to all team members. Entrepreneurs also provide no-cost credit counseling to anyone in their company who needs the service. Finally, it’s wise to learn the typical signs of job burnout so you can spot situations that need professional attention. Review the following points to see which strategies make sense for your company.

Setting Up EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs)

The majority of corporate EAPs deal with employees who need medical and other services related to addiction issues. But there’s a growing demand for psychological treatment options among workers who suffer mild and early forms of depression and related disorders. The good news is that even owners of small businesses and startups can join EAP networks for an annual fee. The cost is nominal compared to the potential outcomes for employees who use the services. Common EAP offerings include no-cost treatment for things like smoking cessation, alcohol counseling, psychological help, and more. Owners who want their team members to enjoy productive, rewarding careers set up in-house EAPs or join one of the many available networks in their local areas.

Cosigning on Students Loans

Many young professionals stress out about their financial situations. Many enter the job market with no credit, paltry savings, and a thin credit history. For these hard-working adults, it’s almost impossible to get a college loan, much less one with a competitive interest rate. Whether someone you know wants to apply for an education loan or refinance student loans with a cosigner, your signature can make the difference. 

Helping an employee gain access to financing for college can transform the person’s mental state, lower their stress level, and boost career prospects all at the same time. Cosigning takes no time on your part, requires no commitment of cash, and is a simple, direct way to support the general cause of mental well-being. The act of lending a signature for a worthy cause, earning a college degree in this case, can change someone’s long-term prospects for career success and financial security.

Offering Telecommuting

In modern society, there are large numbers of adults who have great difficulty negotiating the social and political interactions that take place in typical office settings. For them, the chance to telecommute is a blessing because it gives them a chance to do their jobs from home via a computer connection. As an employer, you can offer home-based jobs to as many employees as possible by arranging to set up secure connections and establishing a daily routine for the completion of assignments.

Flex-Time Scheduling

Those looking for jobs know the value of flex time. Many of them screen their lists of prospective employers based on that one feature. The working world is changing quickly. Companies in every industry are transforming the old-school nine-to-five daily routines into a more open scheduling environment. Employers who give workers the option to put in 40 hours per week but with no set daily starting and ending times attract the best talent. Remember to be clear about flex time guidelines, making sure to establish some parameters based on common sense and the fact that everyone can’t take the same days off.

No Cost Financial Counseling

Free financial counseling is a variation of assistance programs because it gives your company’s team members a chance to meet with qualified experts in a confidential setting to discuss money challenges of all kinds. Be careful about creating a program in which people don’t have to disclose to others that they’re taking advantage of the program. Many owners use third-party providers who accept clients from the company but don’t report who requests the service. That way, those who need advice from counselors don’t feel embarrassed about seeking help. At some large corporations, the service is the single most popular program among workers. That’s not surprising in a decade where large numbers of young professionals live from paycheck to paycheck.