Working from home does not equal mental health
‘They’re worried about their jobs ... You can see it in their eyes’
TORONTO — In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, with its severe psychological fallout, some companies are offering employees mental health days to cope.
The move comes at a time when the extra time off is welcome — even if more people are working from home, says Jordan Friesen, director of Workplace Mental Health for the Canadian Mental Health Association. “Working from home is not equivalent in addressing your mental health needs. And the mental health of Canadians has declined substantially since the start of the pandemic.”
This week, Canada Life Assurance Co. announced two extra vacation days for its 11,000 employees as a thank you for weathering that strain.
“Three months ago, we asked our employees to be flexible, adaptable, creative and resilient in the face of great change, disruption and uncertainty,” said Jeff Macoun, president and chief operating officer for Canada at Canada Life, in a news release. “We are so proud everyone rose to the challenge, as we knew they would, so we could continue to be there for our customers, advisers and each other every day. Canada Life days are just one way we can thank our employees and help ensure their own mental health is a priority as they continue to support the financial, physical and mental well-being of Canadians.”
Honest Paws, a firm that sells CBD dog treats, is also giving its employees a break, offering two paid mandatory mental health days in May and June, to help them handle the strains of working remotely, new domestic arrangements and the ongoing anxiety of the job market. The firm has offices in Toronto, Brazil, Uruguay, and Costa Rica and has been connecting employees remotely during the crisis.
The strain on the workforce became apparent on Zoom calls. “We now have people locked in their houses, they’re teaching their kids, they’re worried about their jobs,” says Erik Rivera, founder and CEO of Honest Paws. “You can see it in their eyes,” he says.
Rivera says that although the firm offers unlimited vacation, many of its employees don’t take many vacation days. He says many are worried about job security — or are workaholics in general. “We have a lot of high performers,” he says.
By making mental health days mandatory, he says the pressure is off and employees can feel secure taking days off. The payoff includes happier staffers and increased productivity.
In light of staggered shifts and reduced work weeks due to the pandemic, many employers are looking at restructuring how they conduct business. A study released by the Fraser Institute suggests that a four-day work week would leave workers better off: they would be earning the same income working 32 hours rather than 40 hours, while enjoying three-day weekends. The study finds that two per cent growth annually between 2018 to 2030 would help achieve this plan.
The Fraser Institute cites a 2018 survey that found almost 70 per cent of Canadians would prefer working 10-hour days four days per week rather than eight-hour days five days a week. The also study found that the average work hours of Canadians fell by about four per cent between 2000 and 2018, while the real average annual compensation of Canadian workers was roughly 13 per cent higher in 2018 than in 2000.
Rivera certainly supports that model. In the meantime, he’s considering making his two mental days policy mandatory going forward, on either a monthly or quarterly basis. “Mental health is critical for your performance,” he says. “And our company won’t crumble because of that.”
But Friesen cautions that while mental health days are a good idea, they need to be offered within a larger mental health framework. He says enhancing psychological training for managers and encouraging more open dialogue around mental health in the workplace can be “a better return on investment” than introducing mental health days. He also suggests increasing the sick leave benefit to avoid the stigma of taking a mental health day, which can signal to co-workers that your mental health is suffering. “While a mental health day can be part of the solution, address (mental health) through a holistic strategy,” he says.
Rivera says his team stands to benefit. “People should be more proactive to push their employees to protect their mental health,” he says. “Our team has to be happy.”
“We are so proud everyone rose to the challenge, as we knew they would, so we could continue to be there for our customers, advisers and each other every day.”
Jeff Macoun, president and chief operating officer for Canada at Canada Life