Today is known as ‘Blue Monday’ as it is said to be the most depressing (‘bluest’) day of the year. ‘Blue Monday’ falls on the third Monday in January each year and is thought to be ‘blue’ due to a decline in motivation, brought on by a range of contributing factors at this time of the year including gloomy weather, failed New Year’s resolutions and financial worries after over-indulging during the festive period (and, in a lot of cases, trying to stretch that early December paycheck to the end of January!)
A lack of motivation may also come from the fact we are still living through a global pandemic with isolation rules sometimes bringing (more) financial worries for those who can’t work from home for example. Couple this with travel restrictions, meaning holidays have been off the cards for a lot of people for a while now, it is not surprising that some people are not only feeling ‘blue,’ but suffering with their mental health and wellbeing, which can have a serious detrimental impact on the workplace. If employees are struggling with their mental health and wellbeing, they are less likely to perform as well as they could and things like absenteeism are likely to increase!
So, what can businesses do to support employees who are not feeling their optimum selves, not just on ‘Blue Monday,’ but every day? Do you have a benefits package? Does your benefits package offer any form of professional support such as an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that you can promote? Do you have a ‘my door is always open’ policy for anyone who wants to have a confidential chat about anything bothering them (and do your employees know your door is always open?) Can you give some praise and recognition for a job well done; a simple thank you and appreciation can go a long way? Remember, it’s a two-way street and a large chunk of the success of your business will depend on your employees, so looking after their mental health and wellbeing should be a priority.
Get in touch to discuss further ways of improving your employee’s mental health and wellbeing which, in turn, will benefit your business.
