Managing employees’ mental health through COVID-19

As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on, the management of mental health is an increasingly important conversation for workplace leaders.

Paula Allen, senior vice-president of research, analytics and innovation at Morneau Shepell in Toronto joined Talent Canada editor Marcel Vander Wier on Sept. 28 to discuss current concerns for employers.

Unfortunately, a side effect of COVID-19 has been a spike in mental health issues, and surveys such as Morneau Shepell’s Mental Health Index show a consistent negative mental health score among Canadians through the pandemic.

In this episode, Allen responds to the following questions:

• How much has the current pandemic affected mental health in the workplace?
• What triggers for concern are most common for workers during COVID-19?
• In terms of today’s workforce, who is most at risk of mental health issues? Who is most protected?
• What mental health advice do you have for employers today, as well as going forward?
• What tips would you have for putting these strategies into action, rather than simply workplace policy? For example, how should managers address employees who come forward with burnout concerns?
• Does the solution to this issue lie within the manager-worker relationship? Or are broader supports needed?

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