Time to Talk Day 2021

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HR Strategy and Culture
Time to Talk Day 2021

Today (4th of February 2021) is Time to Talk Day, one of the biggest days on the mental health calendar, and a chance for all of us to be more open about mental health – to talk, listen and change lives.

Coronavirus has made this day especially significant this year – for employers and their employees. The impact of COVID-19 has changed all of our lives and the mental health impact of this new reality is significant for many.

At citrus HR we provide HR support for our customers on how best to help their staff with problems, but we’ve also been helping with ideas on how to keep staff happy and healthy during the pandemic.

Our top tips for managing mental health are:

Talk about it – days like ‘Time to Talk’ day, are a great opportunity to get people talking about mental health and demonstrating that you have an understanding about the importance of mental health and well-being for everyone.
Don’t delay – If you suspect an employee is experiencing symptoms of mental ill-health, have a sensitive private conversation without delay.
Provide support – a wellness action plan is a useful way of recording a conversation during which you have agreed on supportive steps with your colleague.
Encourage employee wellness – when budgets are small it is easy to just firefight – only dealing with things when they are a problem, but you can take small steps that won’t break the bank. Spend time encouraging staff to take their allocated breaks, and lead by example.
Regularly asking staff how they are and taking an interest in their lives outside work is more likely to build trust and effectively prevent and manage stress at work. Be prepared to adapt management style as appropriate to each employee and be aware that some people will be less comfortable sharing details of their personal life than others.
Praise and say thank you – small touches like saying thank you, and recognising a job well done will go a long way to show they are appreciated and valued.
Recognise the signs – become aware of the symptoms. Increasing your understanding around the subject will help you manage any issue you have much more effectively.
Share these steps with other managers – you’re more than likely not the only manager in your business, so it’s important to encourage and support your managers to support their staff too.

How we can help

If you need advice about managing mental health get in touch on info@citrushr.com or give us a call on 0333 014 3888 to find out more about how we can help your business with friendly, expert HR support.

The content of this blog is for general information only. Please don’t rely on it as legal or other professional advice as that is not what we intend. You can find more detail on this in our Terms of Website Use. If you require professional advice, please get in touch.