The Mental Health Commission of Canada has launched a toolkit to help employers build an inclusive workplace.
The toolkit outlines strategies and actions organizations can take to make their workplace more inclusive and welcoming to people living with a mental-health issue or illness. “These people are often referred to as aspiring workers, and are as qualified, reliable and high-performing as any other worker,” noted a press release. “They often bring a unique perspective and problem-solving ability that can contribute to an organization’s accomplishments and culture.”
Read: Is early detection in your mental-health toolkit?
According to the organization, accommodating workers living with a mental-health problem can improve employee relationships, increase job satisfaction and advance an employer’s reputation. “The economic benefit — based on five-year projections — is two- to seven-times the cost of accommodation for organizations and four- to 12-times for workers.”
The toolkit aims to walk human resource managers through strategies and actions “they can take to make workplaces attractive to this untapped labour market,” according to the release. “By making small investments to accommodate workers, employers can build an inclusive culture that values aspiring workers.”
Read: How to handle a workplace accommodation
It includes five key steps to help employers build and retain a more diverse and inclusive workforce:
- Evaluate current practices;
- Identify priorities for action;
- Develop strategies for cost-effective action;
- Assess the return on investment; and
- Monitor, evaluate and ensure continual improvement.