How To Best Create a Mindful Work Environment in Construction
I was reading an article published by the WHO last week about the importance of mental health and the inclusion of mental health in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. They state that depression is one of the leading causes of disability, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds, and people with severe mental health conditions die prematurely – as much as two decades early - which are truly concerning statistics.
In the UK, the construction industry has the highest number of suicides over any other industry. This is partly due to the lack of diversity within the industry, one of which is stereotypically portrayed as male-dominated where showing vulnerability or emotional intelligence is rare. This creates an environment not conducive to positive mental health and wellness.
What can be done about it?
Identifying that there is an issue is the first step and, as with all cultural changes, it needs to start at the top. I would suggest that you design a well-being strategy with the support of your HR advisors. Once completed, your strategy needs to be communicated to your team, ensuring that the reasons for the change are clearly identified. This is by far the most important part of the process.
The next step is the implementation phase. The key to this is employee engagement, having one-to-one meetings between employees and their managers and/or HR to discuss the strategy, obtain their feedback and listen to their issues and concerns because your employees need to feel heard and included every step of the way.
One key element which should be a part of the well-being strategy is work/life balance. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, most businesses have addressed this in part by introducing some form of hybrid working. However, this is usually not possible in the construction industry. An alternative measure could be to assist your team in setting clear boundaries at work, which Indeed.com lays out really well in this article.
Another key element of the strategy should be a review of the recruitment process to ensure that you are hiring the right people for your team. You need to ensure that they have the correct skills and training required, which will not only reduce the challenges and stress placed on them, but also that of the management team.
Having an efficient operational team that ensures you have streamlined systems which are clearly communicated to the team will ensure that the business runs smoother and will contribute to a more positive working environment, and should improve the mental health and wellness of your team.
There is no quick fix to the problem. However, I can assure you that once you start the journey and see the results, you won’t look back.
If you have any further enquiries please don't hesitate to email me at andrew.coney@raffingers.co.uk or click here.