May 2017
Workplace Mental Well-Being
This edition of @Work magazine focuses on programs, tools, and resources employers can use to combat the stigma associated with mental illness and assist employees in getting the support they need.
Features
Stress, Mindfulness, and Employee Well-Being
Stress has long been recognized as an important driver of employee illness and absence, and it has a powerful effect on employees’ health. Employers have responded to this stress epidemic in many ways, yet it is clear that more must be done. Read more.
Stepping Up: Facing Behavioral Health Issues In the Workplace
Most employers have seen their employees, managers, and whole departments struggle when mental health issues strike or linger. Employers often feel at a loss for how to best address mental health issues in the workplace and assist struggling employees. Read more.
2016 Behavioral Health Survey: Employer Progress and Challenges
The 2016 DMEC Behavioral Health Survey, the sixth biennial survey in the series, highlighted the continuation of several important trends in employer mental well-being programs. Read more.
Spotlight Articles
Program Showcase: Resilience Training
Employers are exploring employee psychological resilience training to reduce their risk of lost time, presenteeism, and depression. Employee engagement is a key to workplace productivity for many organizations, yet resilience is the path to engagement under difficult circumstances. Read more.
Compliance Makeover: Mental Health Integration
Employee mental health initiatives are driving expanded program integration as employers and vendors build on the model developed for employee health and productivity initiatives. Read more.
Columns
Wrestling with ADA, FMLA, and Overtime: Overtime and the ADA
Can a no-overtime restriction be a reasonable accommodation for an employee with a disability? Yes, according to the EEOC. However, the next question becomes, are employees with no-overtime restrictions still able to perform the essential functions of their position? Read more.
Integrated Absence Management: Addressing Mental Well-Being
Your employees’ mental health can be impacted by stress at work, finances, and their personal lives. Employers can play a major role in eliminating some of these stressors and thereby enhance employees’ mental well-being. Read more.
Ask the Accommodation Experts: Work-at-Home Requests
Jenny Haykin, MA, CRC, and Tom Sproger, MS, CEAS-II, explain how to review work-at-home requests, including informal assessment of “undue hardship” on the employer. Read more.
Absence Matters: Eliminating Stigma in the Workplace
More organizations are beginning to recognize the importance that mental health plays in the workplace. They have come to realize that creating and fostering an environment that supports mental health can also lead to increased productivity, lower claims costs, and improved rates of employee retention. Read more.
Untangling the ADA, FMLA, WC Web: Overcoming the Disability Mindset
An employee who has a disabling injury or illness may also experience a psychological event: the disability mindset which makes return to work less likely. However, employers can apply several health and productivity best practices to help employees avoid the disability mindset and safely return to work in a timely manner. Read more.
Overcoming the Disability Epidemic: Improve Productivity by Reducing Stigma
Mental illness and substance abuse exact a huge toll; fortunately, even brief treatment can have a positive impact. When employers succeed in creating a positive environment, employees tend to feel empowered and included, which improves engagement and productivity. Read more.
The Future of Leave Management: Consumerization Trends – Part 3
The impact of employee well-being on workplace productivity is no longer a question. A recent report shows six in 10 employees have or will need to take leave for family or medical reasons at some point and employer support is critical. Read more.
Piecing Together the Integration Puzzle: Leave of Absences and EAPs
The impact of depression and other conditions may be amplified when employees are on leave caring for family members that need them. Engaging employees on leave through an employee assistance program (EAP) can provide them with resources they need to manage the range of challenges they may be facing. Read more.
Departments
The CEO’s Desk: Add Mental Well-Being to Your Agenda
When presenting the business case to corporate leadership for workplace mental health initiatives, it’s important to note that most employers already have many of the pieces in place to help employees overcome mental health challenges and enjoy full productivity at work. Read more.
DMEC News: May 2017
As we recognize Mental Health Month in May, DMEC put together a variety of free resources and tools to help organizations address mental health in their workplaces and combat the stigma surrounding treatment and care. Read more.
Compliance Memos: May 2017
The May 2017 compliance memos cover state and local law updates, ACA projections, federal contractor privacy compliance, and an update on the IRS memo related to Fixed Indemnity Health Plans. Read more.
