Gus Bates | “Through the Webcam” – Supporting the mental health of your employees in a blended work environment.

For many years, employees were told to leave their problems at home when they come to the office. Due to the pandemic, work and home have blended into one and many companies are struggling with how they should respond. The balance has shifted and employers are realizing that if they don’t take care of the whole person then morale and performance can be impacted. Human Resource professionals play an important role in serving both the needs of the employee and the employer in issues related to grief, stress, and mental health. They often take on the role of counselor and must also think like an attorney in order to handle situations with compassion and professionalism. The presentation will focus on what we can do to make the workplace safe for honest emotions without letting it become a distraction or causing legal issues for your organization. Objectives 1. Without the human, you don’t get the resource. Understand who your coworkers are beyond the work they perform. 2. Identify stressors and behavioral markets when it comes to emotions. Know when to provide a listening ear or refer to a counselor. Understand when there may be legal implications such as FMLA or ADA when an employee is exhibiting signs of anxiety at work. 3. Focus on creating flexible solutions for your employer that serve the needs of both the business and its employees. Learn about the latest trends in benefits related to mental health and bereavement. 4. Recognize the signs of mental health issues in the workplace. 5. Learn how to engage in the interactive process without creating legal exposure for your organization. After graduating from Texas Tech in 2004 with a degree in Sociology, Justin attended Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth to study Marriage and Family Counseling. While attending graduate school, he worked part time at Cellular World in the accounting department. When a position became available in Human Resources it seemed like a much better fit for his background.