Does how you feel impact what you do?

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Did you know that according to a 2017 report by Deloitte, and I quote “In any one year, over one in four people in the general population and one in six workers is likely to be suffering from a mental health condition.

And as widely misunderstood as it is, Mental Wellbeing is actually a state of mind — one that makes you feel confident, allows you to feel and express different emotions, build and nurture good relationships, and adapt and manage to change and uncertainty.

But can mental health have an effect on your work and productivity?

Does how you feel impact what you do?

Apparently, it does!

Poor mental health is costing UK employers up to £45 billion — an increase of 16% since it was last investigated in 2017, according to a report.

Mental health related staff turnover, i.e. when someone leaves for mental health reasons is currently costing firms £8.6bn in costs.

Researchers are of the opinion that the rise is primarily because of “Presenteeism”, where people come to work despite poor health, and thus underperforming.

In simple terms, it’s a state of being physically present but mentally not being a lot productive.

So while a lot of employers might see a full house in their offices, all may not be well.

And this is a clear and accelerating trend at workplaces. Some are even of the opinion that presenteeism is the key issue to Britain’s productivity problem.

Mental wellbeing and Productivity — The relationship

Factors which might affect an individual’s mental wellbeing can sometimes be quite subtle. These could be anything from not getting along with colleagues or a line manager, unnecessary pressure and unrealistic deadlines, or for a new starter — lack of support, an unwelcoming team, or even poor training — the list can go on.

These can make an individual anxious and constant anxiety can make someone to lose focus, making it very difficult to carry out day-to-day work activities. This could also affect an employee’s stamina, making deadlines difficult to meet. When not addressed on time, this can lead to paranoia, when even constructive criticism could be taken personally and cause them to doubt themselves and their capabilities.

In the long run, this may not be affecting just the individual, but could impact the overall dynamics of the team or the workplace in general. When someone struggles to interact with other people, they tend to isolate themselves causing a blockage of free flowing communication.

On the contrary, when an individual isn’t caught up in debilitating thoughts, they’re able to focus more, and be more productive. They’re also less emotionally reactive and more proactive, productive and efficient.

It has also been observed that higher levels of job security serve to reduce the odds of presenteeism. And job stress can have quite the opposite impact on presenteeism, particularly for people with good mental health– meaning, even the people with the best mental health can be less productive if they are stressed about their job.

What does it all boil down to?

Mental wellbeing is a diverse subject and thankfully more and more organisations are now prioritising workplace mental wellbeing, not only for its long terms benefits to the organisation, but also for the fact that they want to make their emplloyees feel valued and heard.

The workplace can be a tough place to be. And in today’s post Pandemic era, and with most people working remotely, the divide between the so-called ‘professional’ and ‘personal’ life seems to be blurring.

There’s a lot more to be done to look after employees. We know that when employees feel their work is meaningful and they are valued and supported, they tend to have higher levels of wellbeing, be more committed to the organisation’s goals, and offer optimum performance. All we need as employers is a bit of compassion, flexibility, and empathy to make all the difference.