As an HR, you are the go-to person for everyone in the office when discussing and handling grievances. At times, it can get overwhelming to listen to stories of different tragedies, issues, and experiences day in and day out. Let’s not forget that you also have to help handle the day-to-day functioning of the office.
Research says that almost 36% of HRs admitted that these things have impacted their mental health. So, how will it be possible for you guys to take care of the office and its employees while you are battling demons in your head? It won’t. So it’s about time you make mental health your top priority. But before we get to the ways you can resolve them, let’s see what issues an HR faces daily. There are chances that you may have gone through something similar but didn’t know that it was an issue.
Challenges Faced by HR in the Workplace
1. Feeling Exhausted
HRs need to carefully navigate through the complexities of the office. There are one too many issues in the office to deal with, and it’s difficult to be on top of them all the time. It could range from accommodating everyone’s varied working styles to differences in age and culture.
It becomes your job to figure out a way that’s okay with everyone while being in sync with organizational goals. And as it is with every job, this too tends to be monotonous after a certain point. Let’s not forget about the constant burden of taking tough calls like layoffs, issuing warnings, etc., which adds to the overall stress.
For example, imagine starting your day by having a one-on-one session with an employee who is narcissistic and isn’t ready to take feedback. After breaking your head with them, you move on to your next task, which is conducting a POSH meeting between two parties. Along with all this, you also have been asked to cut costs for the company by the end of the day, and the only way to do it is by letting a few employees go. Also, you’ll have to figure out a way to improve coordination between remote and in-office employees. Just imagine the state of mind of a person after having such a day.
2. Playing the Balancing Act
HR is the go-to person for employees facing personal crises, mental health issues, or workplace problems. This includes both managers and employees, and it becomes HR’s responsibility to strengthen the bond between the two. But sometimes, after listening to issues from both sides every day, there comes a point where HR starts disassociating with these issues. This is known as compassion fatigue. Here, they slowly become less empathetic and supportive towards the employees.
Let’s say an employee comes to you with an issue about their manager giving them unnecessary blame for some mistake in a particular task. You go to the manager and talk about it, and they give their reason behind it. Now, both parties may be correct in their way, but you need to find a middle ground and reach a conclusion. It’s a tough situation to be in, but only you can neutralize it. By being empathetic and logical in this situation, you can avoid a lot of bad blood in the company.
3. Being the Bad Cop
As HRs, you are sometimes made out to be someone who doesn’t care about the issues or feelings of the employees. Under the guise of following the rule book, you guys come out as villains, but these rules aren’t necessarily set for one person or even made by one person. It’s a decision that was unanimously agreed upon by the management.
Here’s an example: Suppose the upper management gives you the order to cut down the company costs by letting a few people go. After some discussions, you make a list of people from each department who will be asked to leave. Now, being the bearer of this news is anyway not an easy job, and on top of that, you’ll also need to answer them the reasons for their removal. It might even get ugly in the meeting where you give them the news. They might cry, abuse, fight, manipulate, etc., but you need to be firm and also show empathy toward their situation at the same time. Imagine having to do this with two more employees on the same day. All of this adds up to your mental load.
Ways HR Can Handle Their Mental Health Issues
Make Time for Self-Care
Small changes to your daily routine can go a long way. The goal is to make time for, well, literally anything that makes you happy and healthy. Start by regularly exercising, which is considered a natural mood booster. It not only improves mental health but also reduces the chances of you developing any serious health diseases.
You need to also ensure that you’re getting adequate rest, as it’s crucial for your mental and physical health. Make it a habit to sleep by a particular time and wake up early. An unhealthy diet can also spoil your mental and physical health significantly.
For example, you can make it a habit that every morning you’ll meditate for 10 minutes. Track your progress with the help of meditation apps. It’ll help you have a clear mind right at the start of the day, and calm your anxiety down. In the office, you can make it a habit to take a break every hour or two to step away from the desk. Go out for a short walk or simply stretch your back to release tension from the body. All of these little things help.
Be Aware of Your Triggers
Recognize what you feel is the most challenging and stressful aspect of your job. If you’re aware of what could affect your health, you can see it coming and be prepared to respond to it in advance.
Let’s say that you get overwhelmed while onboarding multiple people, and the term end of many colleges is close by. You’ll be expecting a mass influx of new hires during this season. There are enough signs for you to be ready in advance. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, create and train a team that’ll help with the onboarding process. Another thing that you can do is start a buddy program so that the employees will help new hires get acclimated faster.
Set Boundaries
Set a clear distinction between your personal and professional life. These include certain rules and timing as to when someone can approach you for work. The list can be subjective and differ from person to person, but the end goal should be to prioritize your time, peace, and space.
For example, keep a cap on the number of meetings you hold in a day. This way, you can make time for mental breaks and also get the job done efficiently.
Another thing to remember is not to let any employee take you for granted by being available for a chat any time of the day. Either give them a specific time for later or tell them that you only have a limited amount of time on your hands. You can create a detailed task list on greytHR, which will help you remember what is scheduled for the entire day. So you can handle unplanned conversations better without affecting your planned tasks.
Avoid Overcommitments
Never underestimate the value of saying “no” to things to protect your peace. If you go people-pleasing and try doing everything, everywhere, all at once, you’ll end up being burned out or stressed. You may not even be able to give your best on the job you’ve been hired for. Saying “no” can be difficult at times, especially when it’s the people you work with, but it needs to be done. Employees and even managers, at times, think that you have some magic wand that’ll take away all their worries and provide a solution. But that’s not the case, right?
Let’s say an employee comes to you with some payment issues at the start of the day. Now, while it’s an important issue, check how your day is planned out. If you have multiple meetings scheduled for the day, DO NOT COMMIT that it’ll be resolved that day. Instead, tell them you’ll try to check it sometime later in the day, or it will be done by tomorrow. Simply put, you’ll be acknowledging their issue and assuring them that it will be resolved soon while setting a boundary for yourself.
Be a Role Model
Being the HR of the company, you not only need to prioritize your mental health but also push others to be open about their issues. So, let’s just say if you’re dealing with OCD and also have anxiety. Try being open about it so that others will feel inspired to do the same. And, when someone comes out and talks about their issues openly, be accommodating of them and ensure that they are taken care of properly.
For example, think of an underconfident employee in your company who always feels anxious doing everyday tasks. Improve their confidence by acknowledging their efforts and achievements. Give them a shoutout on greytHR where other employees can also appreciate their work by sending congratulatory messages and reacting using emojis.
Summing Up
Prioritizing your mental health as an HR is crucial not only for you but also for the company. Many reports have proved that a happy working environment leads to enhanced employee engagement and productivity. By doing things like exercising, taking walks, and having a good sleep schedule, you will start to notice positive changes in yourself. It will be a slow process, but as they say, good things take time.
FAQs
How Does HR Deal with their Mental Health Issues?
HRs can deal with mental health issues by being vocal about them, knowing their trigger points, maintaining boundaries, and separating professional and personal lives.
Why Is It Important for HR Professionals to Address Their Mental Health?
HRs must handle their mental well-being since they take care of many complex situations, such as employee concerns, conflict resolution, and sensitive matters. These must be performed properly, as the organization's well-being is dependent on them. By addressing these, HR can support others and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
What Can HR Professionals Do When Feeling Overwhelmed by Work Demands?
When HRs are feeling overwhelmed by their work demands, they should first make a priority list of their tasks and focus on only the urgent matters. They should also look to take guidance from someone in the office if needed. Apart from these, HRs can also try out techniques like breathing, meditation, walks, and mindful pauses during the day.
