Mental Wellness: Effective Accommodations Are Easier Than Employers May Think

By Kimberly Mashburn, RN

National Accounts Practice Lead
The Hartford

By Alicia Heine, CRC, CCM

Program Consultant
The Hartford

Despite increased education and awareness around mental illness in the workplace, it remains a sensitive, personal topic that most employees are uncomfortable discussing. Accommodation discussions involving mental illness may cover topics that make employees uncomfortable. When those discussions do occur, employers must be willing to carefully listen and consider accommodations for the employee, while still being mindful of the business needs.

Accommodations don’t have to be complex or costly. One employer found a simple solution to the challenges faced by a call center employee. The employee handled emergency cases all day, while experiencing added stress from a personal situation. Call centers, which can be programmed down to the minute, are one of the most stressful work environments. At times, she would leave her desk (and her calls) unattended, which created disruption. The challenge became balancing the employee’s mental health needs while maintaining timely call response.

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