health in the workplace: issues and employees · accommodating employees. global ... global hr...

MentalHealthintheWorkplace:IdentifyingIssuesand

AccommodatingEmployees

GLOBAL HR LEGALSOLUTIONS ela.law

PresentationTeam

JaySandys,PHDVicePresident,OrganizationalDevelopment

BryanR.CokeleyMember

JamieL.LearyMember


UnderstandingMentalHealth


DefinitionofMentalIllness

Amentaldisorderisasyndromecharacterizedbyclinicallysignificantdisturbance inanindividual’s

• Cognition• Emotionregulation• Behavior

MentalIllnessareassociatedwith significantdistressordisabilityinsocial,occupational,orotherdailyactivities

Source: adapted from DSM V


RecognizingWarningSigns


ObserveWarningSigns

BehavioralPhysical

• Irritability• Anxiety• Depression• Paranoia• Moodswings

• Headachesorbackaches• Shalloworrapidbreathing• Fatigue• Sweatingorshaking/chills

• Excessivetalkingorrestlessness• Limitedattentionspan• Poormotivation/lackofenergy• Disrespectfulorthreatening• Socialisolation

Emotional


ObserveSignals

Symptomsmanifestthemselvesin:

• Thequalityoftheworkitself

• Interpersonalrelationships

• Behaviorshifts

• Durationofpresentingissue

PatternOfBehavior


Work‐RelatedSignsandSymptoms

• Reactingoutofcontext• Feelsresentfulandunappreciated• Leavingworkearlyorarrivinglate• Avoidingsupervisorsorco‐workers• Lackofrespectforworkplaceboundaries

• Financialdifficulties• Changesinpersonalityorbehavior• Poorappearanceandhygiene• Defensiveness

• Frequentabsenteeism• Longlunchbreaks• Onthejobabsenteeism• Rigidperspective• Inabilitytoworkwithco‐workers• Inconsistentworkpatterns• Troubleacceptingresponsibility• Blamesothersforpoorperformance

• Strangeorgrandioseideas


HighRiskWarningSigns

• Suicidal statements • Saying things like “it would be

better if I wasn’t here” or “I want out”

• Making statements about being hopeless or worthless

• Losing interest in things that used to be valued

• Increased irritability and dramatic mood swings

• Impulsive behavior

• Always thinking about or talking about death

• Taking extreme risks or having a “death wish,” such as driving recklessly

• Giving away possessions, putting affairs in order, saying farewell to friends/colleagues

• Sudden, unexplained change in mood from extreme sadness to calm, happy appearance

• Any major changes in patterns of behavior


ProvidingSupport


AsaManager,HowCanYouHelp?

• Knowcompanypoliciesandprotocols• Involveothers(e.g.HRorWork/LifeAssistanceProgram)• Reachouttothepersonbasedonworkperformance• Bespecificaboutwhatyouhaveobserved• Avoidtryingtodiagnose/interprettheproblem• Bepreparedtoofferresources• Avoidenablingandstigma


ExampleofCCAIntervention

Scenario:Amanagerhasasupervisorymeetingwithanemployeeduetorecentabsenteeism.Theemployeebecomestearfulanddistraught,andsaystheyneedhelp.

Intervention:• Individualisevaluatedimmediatelyforrisk• Ifriskidentified,emergencyservicesengaged• Ifnoimminentrisk,individualreferredforin‐personassessment• Individualprovidedwithshort‐termcounseling(ifappropriate)orreferredontospecializedservices

• Individualprovidedwithcasemanagementoversight• OngoingconsultationwithCompanyregardingemployee’sprogressandreadinessforreturntowork


HealthandWell‐beingintheWorkplace

Encourage:• Preventivecare• Healthyeating• Exercise• Goodsleephabits• Employeestocontactthework/lifeprogram• Appropriatebreak&mealtimes


INSERT Cokeley Slides


LeaveofAbsence:WhatLawApplies?

•Local• State•Federal

• FMLA• HIPAA• COBRA

Anddoespreemptionapply?


HowWellDoYourBenefitPlansComplementYourLeaveofAbsencePolicy?

• Reviewplandocuments• Forinsuredbenefits,insurancepolicyorgroupcontract• Forself‐fundedbenefits,stoplossinsurancepolicy

• Detailsmatter• Reviewdefinitions• Readprovisionstogether• Comparedifferenttypesofleave– e.g.,nonmedicalvs.medical

• Considerwhat’sbeencommunicated• Summaryplandescriptions• Employeehandbook• Leaveofabsencepolicy


Pre‐PlanningCanMinimizeStressLater

• Howlongcananemployeeonleavecontinuetobecoveredunderyourbenefits?

• Doyouwanttonegotiatelongercoveragewithinsurers?

• Doyouwanttostandardizethelengthoftimeacrossvariousbenefits?

• DoyouneedtocorrectorclarifybenefitscoverageinyourpoliciesandSPDs?

• WhenwillaCOBRAqualifyingeventoccur,triggeringneedtoissueCOBRAelectionnotice?


WhenConsideringChanges,KeepinMind:

• HIPAAnondiscriminationregulations• Prohibitsdiscriminationonthebasisofahealthfactor

• Exceptionforbenigndiscrimination

• Considersafeharboreffectivedate

• ERISAdisclosurerequirements• Summaryofmaterialmodificationsgenerallywithin210daysafterendofplanyearinwhichchangeisadopted

• Exceptionsmayapply


WhenConsideringChanges,KeepinMind:

• ACAPlayorPayConsequences• Isemployeeondisabilityorsickleavestillaccruinghoursofservicefor4980Hpurposes?

• AretheystillconsideredanACAfull‐timeemployee?

• Howwillyoucodetheir1095‐C?

• AreyourCOBRApremiumsACAaffordable?


WrapUp

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