__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mental Health
While some employees are open to being communicative about their problems, others will prefer to access resources on their own terms. Utilize break rooms and community bulletin boards to post information on ways to get help— not just QR codes but also phone numbers for those who are not as equipped to navigate resources digitally.
Contractors should coordinate their HR and safety teams to communicate all the mental health benefits available so that all employees are aware of the resources at their disposal. Company benefits programs should be expanded to include therapy and rehab facilities, and supervisors should offer employees the flexibility to set up virtual appointments so they can discuss their issues in private. All these resources should be available in multiple languages to accommodate everyone’ s needs.
When workers arrive at the jobsite frustrated and irritated, changing their schedule and their behavior, those are warning signs that their mental health may be at risk. An attentive contractor will take steps now to establish lines of communication, equipping them with the necessary tools to tackle the stresses of the job and keep their mental health in check.
By embracing this more open-minded approach, contractors are not just helping workers on their current jobsite; they are contributing to a broader change that will help generations of construction workers to come. ■
Jaime M. Garcia www. fortecc. com
Jaime M. Garcia, CHST, is Deputy Safety Director at Forte Construction Corp., a general contracting firm that collaborates with key government agencies on diverse projects across New York City and Long Island.
construction-today. com 11