Mental Illness such as Depression Can Be a Workplace Injury

As an employer, you need to know that depression is a very common mental illness for both men and women. If the depression is severe enough it can cause serious difficulties both at work and home leading to absenteeism and lower productivity and so can escalate employer’s costs. If a depressed employee also had a physical work related injury, there would be more challenges of getting this employee back to work, potentially increasing employee benefits costs. If an employee suffers from chronic pain, the risk for depression could be worse, all having a negative effect on the workplace, whether it is issues of presenteeism, where productivity is affected either with the individual or the team.

What can you do as an employer? Pay attention to your employees noting anything unusual such as change in grooming, sadness and educate yourself and your employees about depression. You can refer them to an employee assistance program and if you don’t have one refer them to their doctor always relating your discussion to how the employee’s responsibilities are being affected.

Read more at CarolinasHealthCare.org/EmployerSolutions or contact Next Level Benefits for more information.