April 1, 2021

Make your business stronger by prioritizing employee mental health and well-being

While the COVID-19 vaccination program is giving hope to Texas businesses, mental and emotional issues related to the pandemic remain a serious concern. A Centers for Disease Control (CDC) study conducted last year, reported that almost 41% of adults in the United States were struggling with mental health issues or substance abuse, a two-fold increase over pre-pandemic numbers. These conditions can negatively impact physical health and increase the likelihood of on-the-job accidents.

At Texas Mutual, we’re committed to helping employers build stronger, safer workplaces. As the leading provider of workers’ compensation in Texas, we’ve seen how businesses across the state have adapted to the pandemic, and we’ve also stepped up how we care for our own employees during this unprecedented year. Prioritizing mental health and well-being is not only good business practice, we’ve seen firsthand how it leads to increased job satisfaction and employee engagement. See steps you can take to help your employees manage pandemic-related stress and make your business stronger with the support of Texas Mutual.

Listen to your employees

Everyone has been experiencing the pandemic differently and may be addressing struggles that did not exist before. Employees may be grieving the loss of a loved one, or the loss of not seeing friends and family or coworkers. They may be concerned about contracting the virus, their children’s well-being or financial stability. For many, it’s not just one thing that is top of mind.

To learn what your employees need, ask them. Consider conducting a survey or poll to see what resources pique their interest. Whether it’s mindfulness classes, guided meditation, or casual virtual coffee chats to help de-stress and connect with each other, see what resonates with them. You can check with local businesses to see if they offer virtual experiences.

Afterward, ask for feedback in an anonymous survey to see if more regular sessions would be welcomed. You can also encourage management to conduct one-on-one check-ins to open the conversation to include well-being.

Adapt and be flexible

While we are now more than a year into the pandemic, employers are still navigating how to support their employees in this ever-evolving new normal. We’ve seen some employers have success by adapting their business models, and that goes for how they care for their employees as well. Flexible work schedules have helped many employees remain productive on the job, while also supporting their children’s virtual learning schedules.

With more and more employees heading back to the workplace as vaccination rates increase, consider how you can continue to support them through this transition. Giving your employees the time and space to care for themselves and take care of personal matters shows that your organization supports their well-being. Personal days, in addition to sick days and vacation, are one way that your business can do that.

Getting professional help

Unfortunately, mental health carries a stigma, but as an employer, you can lead by example and encourage your employees to get the care they need. Help your team know how to see changes in behavior and direct your employees to resources where they can get professional help if they need it.

How we’re making workers’ comp work for you

Workers’ compensation gives you peace of mind that your employees will be taken care of if they are injured on the job. It helps protect them and it helps protect your business, but we are more than your workers’ comp provider. We’ve assisted businesses and nonprofits throughout the pandemic, and we continue to provide essential help in the fight against COVID-19. As a policyholder-owned company, we’ve paid $3.1 billion in dividends to our policyholders for creating safe workplaces and for choosing to do business with us. We provide free safety resources and have a dedicated safety team ready to help you.

We also offer 28 industry-specific safety groups that help you save money on workers’ comp costs and give you customized safety resources. From agriculture to transportation, safety groups help you maximize your workers’ comp benefits. Talk to your agent about getting a quote from Texas Mutual for one of our safety groups.

We’re proud to be trusted by over 70,000 businesses to protect over 1.5 million Texans. To learn more about Texas Mutual, explore workers’ comp basics, costs and benefits and see what to expect when you choose Texas Mutual.