When it comes to recognising issues such as stress, employers across the UK are making strides in safeguarding their people’s mental wellbeing. Many of the businesses –both big and small – that we partner with have fantastic initiatives designed to create an environment where employees can thrive. As a fresh crop of graduates and school leavers enter the workplace we wanted to look at the mental health challenges this particular group may face.
Transitioning to the world of work
A new job can take a bit of getting used to. Graduates and school leavers have to adjust to a new routine, a new environment, as well as a new commute and colleagues. This is often accompanied by a major lifestyle shift, including moving away from friends and family, which some may find stressful and isolating.
While for some the world of work immediately feels right, others may find it takes a little longer to adapt. It’s not always easy to differentiate between teething problems and the signs of a potential mental health issue. If a new employee is not coping they may become withdrawn, experience mood swings, or lose or gain weight.
Pressure to perform
When starting a new role, it is natural to want to impress and prove that you’re the right hire. However there is a risk that an employee overcommits themselves, causing them to feel overstretched. This can be compounded by the fact that technology allows us to remain connected to work wherever we are, with many at risk of falling into an “always on” approach to working.
Our research found that four in five millennials confess to checking their emails “first thing in the morning and last thing at night”, with a third of this age group believing that not being able to access their email at all times would affect their chance of promotion.[1] This approach to work can lead to stress and ultimately burnout, with employees denying themselves the rest and recovery time they need to remain mentally and physically healthy.
Business leaders play a key role in helping employees to strike a good work-life balance. From the businesses we partner with we know that employees feel more empowered to work regular hours and take breaks if they see senior leaders displaying the same behaviour.
The “dream job” dilemma
Many people who have recently left school or university undertook certain training and qualifications, as they wanted to take up a specific career path. For these people, especially, it can be disheartening if the “dream job” doesn’t live up to expectations.
As people managers, we want employees to be able to do their best work, and creating an environment where people are comfortable talking about their concerns about a role can help. There may be a simple, personalised solution, such as a training course or an opportunity to work within another department.
Pablo’s tips for supporting graduate employees:
- Create a support system – assigning graduates a buddy, such as a slightly more experienced colleague, can help young employees to settle in and air any concerns in an informal way
- Start a wellbeing conversation – showing employees that you care about their wellbeing is important for morale at all levels of an organisation. Our recent research found that 40 per cent of employees believed that their organisation taking an interest in their health and wellbeing would help create a culture of trust[2]
- Catch up – having regular contact with employees can help business leaders to spot when a colleague is struggling, or is in need of additional support. Monitoring the progress of entry-level employees can help businesses to determine how they are getting on both professionally and personally, and identify and assist with any emerging mental health concerns
- Let them know about the support available –Bupa’s Mental Health Advantageprovides employees with support and treatment to manage long-term mental health issues, giving them confidence that they can access care when they need it.
[1] Bupa (2017) Always On
[2] Bupa (2018) The Value of Trust
