The summer solstice has officially passed, meaning evenings are getting darker and temperatures are dropping. Around the office, you may also notice the mood dropping.
It is often the case that people who work a nine-to-five won’t see the sunlight through anything other than the office window.
As the leaves shed from the trees, employers should be taking the time to prioritise their employees’ mental health.
Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, is a mental health condition that causes depression in the colder months.
You should look out for signs of:
The shorter days affect the body’s circadian rhythm. The early sunsets and late sunrises can confuse the body’s internal clock and lead to fatigue.
If an employee is showing signs of SAD, you should try and have a conversation with them to establish what adjustments they will need to feel better at work.
Creating a workplace that accommodates mental health needs can make a significant difference to an employee’s ability to remain productive and engaged at work.
When an employee is experiencing difficulties with their mental wellbeing, their circumstances should be approached with understanding and appropriate support should be considered.
Where the condition meets the legal definition of a disability, the employer may also have a duty to put reasonable adjustments in place.
Practical measures might include altering an employee’s start and finish times, introducing additional short breaks, providing greater flexibility around working patterns or enabling time away from work for medical appointments.
Changes to an employee’s physical surroundings can also be helpful. For example, someone who feels isolated may benefit from having their workstation positioned closer to colleagues, while moving a desk nearer to a source of natural light could improve the overall working environment.
Where appropriate, employers could also consider homeworking or a hybrid arrangement.
Access to daylight and fresh air is another factor worth considering. Employees can be encouraged to use their allocated breaks to spend some time outdoors, particularly during daylight hours, which may contribute positively to their general wellbeing.
Effective management is equally important. Managers and supervisors should receive appropriate training so they can recognise potential indicators that an employee may be experiencing mental health difficulties and know how to respond appropriately.
Identifying concerns at an early stage, having supportive conversations and making suitable workplace adjustments can help prevent problems from escalating and may increase the likelihood of an employee being able to remain in employment.
We understand that employers want the best for their employees, that is why we are here to support you so that you can support your employees in the way that they need.
Our team can help you with implementing policies that support employees when managing mental health issues within the workplace.
We can help you review and implement policies so that your team are equipped to handle mental health issues as they appear in the colder months.
Get in touch with our team for support with managing SAD in the workplace.
