Depression In The Workplace

There are many employee health issues that you need to concern yourself with but one of the issues that you may be overlooking is depression in the workplace. Workplace depression is a growing concern as it reduces productivity along with many other things. In the winter, it is common to see seasonal depression occur as employees are not able to enjoy the sun as often and it can cause people to become depressive. Companies will see a dramatic decrease in productivity when they have employees suffering from depression as it impacts not only one employee but it can impact the entire working environment. Co-workers may become frustrated with their co-workers as their attitudes can really rub off and cause problems for everyone. So what should and can employers do to help their employees cope with depression in the workplace?

Pay attention to your employees
One of the best things you can do is to start paying attention to your employees. You need to notice when they have personality changes and to notice issues that can arise. If you see that they are becoming quiet and less active in their job or in participating with their coworkers you need to seriously consider that they could have depression. It's a good idea to call them into their office and talk to them. Find out if there is something you can do to help or at least give them advice on who to contact in order to help manage their issues with depression. Watch for tardiness, excessive sick leave, and failure to complete tasks on time as they all indicate an issue with depression.

Motivation
It is important that you continue motivating the rest of your staff. You need to make sure they are still focused on their job despite their co-workers that may be suffering. They may be frustrated as they feel the others are not pulling their weight and really contributing to the company. Make sure their workloads are not getting overwhelmed or you will end up with disgruntled employees. Focus on motivating them so they still enjoy their job and let them know you are trying to help their co-workers that are suffering.

Adequate lighting
Seasonal depression is something that you need to be very concerned about. When there are overcast days and there is not as much light in the office, people can become very depressive. You can purchase lights that actually mimic the sun and can help to make your employees feel better. The light therapy you need to use will include using full-spectrum bulbs or using color temperature bulbs as they do help to provide the right type of light your employees need. When the lights are consistently used, people that suffer from seasonal depression will be able to see results.

Encourage exercise
Employers can help with depression by encouraging their employees to get exercise. Exercise will help to improve their depression problems as the body will release endorphins, which help to improve the mood a person is in. Plus exercise also provides you with more energy to get throughout the day and helps your body to be better equipped to handle stress.

Sunlight
Open the windows and bring in some fresh air and sunlight. Sunlight provides the body with B vitamins and can really help to make you feel better. Try to encourage your employees to go outside to eat their lunch or to go outside for a brisk walk each day. When you can get people outside, it really will be able to help improve their sense of well-being and can provide them with the extra energy they need to feel better throughout the day.