It’s a regular day at work. Until, out of the blue, you end up injured and staring at months of recovery.
Workplace injuries are common in the construction and transportation sectors. They are harrowing for the victims and unnerving for the employers. The latter must deal with the impact of the accident on the workforce. Public scrutiny will now examine operational safety features with greater vigilance.
After a workplace injury, physical recovery often takes the spotlight. The employee focuses on recovering quickly to return to work, and employers want to replace the lost productivity.
Amid all this, mental rehabilitation can take a backseat. Ignoring it can be damaging for all parties, as the relationship between mental health and injuries is bidirectional.
How Are Workplace Injuries and Mental Health Related?
A recent Personnel Psychology study found that work accidents and mental health are interconnected. After an unfortunate incident, an employee may feel uncertainty and significant stress due to job demands. They may find it daunting to cope with earlier manageable routines.
The study also observed that minorities are more prone to both workplace injuries and mental health troubles. This situation likely arises from systematic discrimination.
The Conversation notes that negative thoughts and rumination can arise after work injuries. These patterns trigger a downward spiral that slows down an employee’s recovery. The two-way nature of the relationship is distressing since mental health challenges further predispose a worker to injury due to distraction and affected decision-making.
These studies indicate the need to integrate psychological care into physical recovery to help employees find the strength to return to work.
Supporting Mental Rehabilitation After Workplace Injuries
Business owners should consider implementing the following approaches to help their employees heal from injuries mentally.
1. Help, Not Hinder, Compensation Procedures
The associated financial repercussions are a prime cause of mental distress after a workplace injury. The employee will be worried about the medical expenses and the lost wages due to the accident.
Accidents can also cause severe emotional distress. They interfere with one’s ability to return to work after physical rehabilitation is complete.
Business owners can support their workers at this time by expediting their compensation claims and taking accountability where it is due.
For example, the US Department of Labor reports that work-related fatalities in Arkansas rose 22.7% in 2023. Many workplace injuries are due to falling or suspended objects and dangerous equipment.
In Fayetteville, a freak accident involved a padfoot roller falling over an embankment onto a sidewalk. A Fayetteville personal injury lawyer can help workers in such accidents receive adequate compensation. As an employer, impeding such efforts will dilute your staff’s trust and create a reputational crisis.
While workplace injuries can involve considerable financial payouts, companies should prioritize cooperation and facilitation. It is the ethical step ahead to revive your employees’ health and confidence. It is also the quickest way to avoid legal repercussions that can be infinitely more damaging.
As an employer, you can support these proceedings by filing the required accident reports. Proactively implement safety procedures to avoid recurrence. Keith Law Group notes that employers must be prepared to cover non-economic damages like pain and lost enjoyment of life, apart from medical bills.
2. Provide Access to Counseling Services
Talk therapy remains a powerful approach to dealing with life’s setbacks. A workplace injury can create fear and a lack of confidence in an employee. It can also trigger nervousness in employees who now perceive themselves as incompetent or unsuitable for the role.
As a responsible business owner, you should offer access to counseling services and helplines. These facilities let employees express their concerns and find the strength to return to their jobs.
Many American adults feel hesitant while discussing mental health. This situation makes counseling services even more essential. Recent Pew Research data suggests that 48% of Americans feel uncomfortable discussing their mental health with colleagues or neighbors. However, around 50% are very comfortable talking about it with a mental health therapist.
You can hire a workplace counselor or psychologist to partner with employees and keep tabs on their mental wellness. Or you can direct your workers to appropriate third-party services.
3. Strive for a Better Work-Life Balance
Resuming work after an injury is stressful for employees. They may struggle to perform at their optimum or feel under-confident in their abilities. Employers can support their staff through the transition by creating a balanced work environment.
For example, consider offering flexible schedules or work-from-home opportunities where possible. Can the employee work remotely a few days each week until they feel physically and mentally stronger? Can you establish calming breaktime routines and ease micromanagement that holds people accountable for each extra minute taken for lunch?
Helping employees develop workplace friendships through team-building activities can also benefit their mental wellness. A 2024 KPMG survey found that 81% of professionals greatly value work friends, with many calling them imperative for positive mental health benefits.
These friends, through empathy and listening, become a shoulder to lean on during challenging times. They can help workers feel resilient when they resume work after an injury.
Your role as an employer will become more crucial if the employee has a hybrid work schedule. When face-to-face communication is not feasible, you may rely on digital channels to gauge mental wellness. It can be tricky to achieve, especially for managers without the required soft skills or mental health training.
Consider scheduling periodic calls or assigning a buddy/mentor to help the worker acclimatize after the traumatic event.
As uncertainty grows around us, business owners must step up to provide reassurance and support the lifeblood of their enterprise, the people.
Being supported and cared for during a sensitive time like recovery from injuries helps your workforce feel a sense of belonging and commitment. Your employees will likely return to their jobs with greater vigor and enthusiasm.
