Workers Ask Employers to Support and Respect Their Mental Health, Requests Fall on Deaf Ears

admin_williamkropach

The last year and a half have been a traumatic time filled with disease and death. Finding balance can be a struggle while homebound workers always seem to be working, battling through Zoom meetings and job-related tasks while families vie for attention. Essential workers have it just as bad, working long shifts to make up for employee shortages and constantly embroiled in the mask wars. Elevated stress levels and isolation can drain you physically and mentally.

If your employer or their insurance company says your stress or harassment workers’ compensation claim is not valid, contact the Los Angeles workers comp attorneys at the Law Offices of Kropach & Kropach.

Stress in the Workplace

At the age of COVID-19, the adage of separating your job from your personal life is almost impossible. Historically, employers have not been much help with supporting their employees’ mental health, often advising workers not to access company mental health benefits for fear it might damage their careers.

Workers are returning to the workplace in droves, and companies need to reevaluate how they treat the psychological and emotional wellbeing of their employees.

Several large employers are leading the charge, facing the issue of COVID burnout and isolation head-on. Citigroup Inc. has told employees to keep regular work hours, cut down on video calls, and encourage vacations in efforts to stabilize a healthy work/life balance.

A 2019 study, conducted by the behavioral support provider Ginger, found more than 80% of workers attempting to access their mental health healthcare faced barriers.

Over the span of the pandemic, the need for psychological and emotional support has only heightened. According to a survey conducted last summer by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), conditions associated with stress were reported in 40% of respondents, including:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Increased use of alcohol and other substances
  • Suicidal thoughts

Coping with Stress

In order to build resilience and learn to cope with stress in a healthy way, the CDC recommends a few healthy approaches, including:

  • Take a break from the screens. Being well-informed is fine, but a constant barrage of pandemic news is not healthy.
  • Take care of your body—eat healthily, exercise regularly, get good sleep, avoid overusing alcohol and other substances, keep doctor’s appointments, and get vaccinated.
  • Take time to unwind and do activities you enjoy.
  • Connect with others—Whether in-person, social-distanced meetings, or touching base online or by the phone.

When should I contact a lawyer?

A sizable percentage of enduring workplace injuries are not physical. Workers often suffer severe and unnecessary psychological trauma due to extreme stress and harassment in the workplace. These injuries can manifest in physical ways, or they can put an unneeded burden on your mental health and emotional welfare.

Since 1972, the Los Angeles workers’ comp attorneys at the Law Offices of Kropach & Kropach have sought restitution for stress-related injuries and fought to get workers’ lives back.

Your work environment should be a safe place. If you work in stressful situations that have affected you mentally or physically, contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 818-609-7005.

Share Us With
Call Us

    Contact Us

    All Fields are required
    By clicking submit you are agreeing to the Terms and Conditions.