MONITOR MENTAL HEALTH THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS EMPLOYERS IN THE BREWING INDUSTRY COULD BE DOING RIGHT NOW TO IMMEDIATELY HELP SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THEIR WORKFORCES. HERE DANIEL STANDER, EMPLOYMENT LAWYER AT VEDDER PRICE LLP, PRESENTS A FEW, NONEXHAUSTIVE, IDEAS.
M
ental Health
With the stresses of isolation, job
Awareness Week has
security, bereavement, and a great
just taken place earlier
many other concerns, it is important
this month. This year’s
to appreciate that employees who
theme is “nature” –
are experiencing a developing mental
something that will no doubt chime with
health issue or a worsening of an existing
many in the brewing industry.
condition will not always approach
The process of brewing is, after all, all
their employer with the problem neatly
about harnessing natural processes in
labelled.
order to make the most of the resources with which we have been provided.
And, if they reach out, not all businesses
This year, of course, many may have a
will know how to respond. The line
new found appreciation for nature and for
between stress and a clinical mental
the world around them.
health condition can be difficult to establish.
With the weather improving, and outdoor
It is vital for employers to understand
hospitality having already opened up on
and appreciate the difference between
12th April, communities across the UK are
the “normal” stresses that everyone goes
taking the opportunity to get out there
through and lives with, and damaging
and to enjoy a drink with those closest to
stress that can lead to more serious
them after a long winter spent at home.
and long-lasting conditions and to take
COMMENT
action when signs of the latter present
brewersjournal.info
VALUE MENTAL HEALTH
themselves.
Research indicates that, on average, 1 in 4
There are a number of things employers
people experience a mental health issue
in the brewing industry could be doing
in the course of a year. Over the course
right now to immediately help support
of our lives, it is highly likely that we will
the mental health of their workforces.
either develop mental ill-health ourselves
Here are a few, non-exhaustive, ideas:
or know someone who does.
No matter how big, or small, the
In employment terms, mental ill-health
business, or how far along the business
is responsible for 72 million working days
may be with its wellbeing strategy, it is
lost, costing employers £34.9 billion each
important that the fundamentals are not
year.
taken for granted.
During 2018/2019, stress, depression or
Although society has made great strides
anxiety were responsible for 44% of all
in recent years, it is still the case that
cases of work-related ill health and 54%
talking about mental health does not
of all working days lost due to health
come naturally to some or is something
issues.
they are not comfortable with, mental
It is clear that the Covid-19 pandemic
health issues often being perceived
has only exacerbated the scale of the
differently to physical issues.
mental ill-health crisis, with the number
Start by better acquainting employees
of employees experiencing symptoms
with mental health and wellbeing
of ill-mental health increasing by 33% in
as a concept. Simply engaging with
2020.
employees at this fundamental level
Employers in the brewing industry will be
is often the first step in working to strip
acutely aware of the additional mental
away stigma and start to nurture a more
health challenges that Covid-19 has
open culture.
posed.
This can mean running lunchtime
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