Now that you’ve known what is DOLE 208-20, do you know that employers have the power to actually make it happen? The mandate has contributed to strengthening the implementation of mental health programs in the workplace. However, the challenge is actually incorporating it into the workplace and making sure it benefits the workforce. The HR department and other management teams can make it happen and implement programs but nothing beats the results of mental health service providers in constructing mental health programs.
Selecting a good mental health service provider for creating mental health programs for your workplace will give you numerous benefits aside from Return on Investment or ROI. The DOLE 208-20 indicates that all private sectors are required to have mental health programs in the workplace so employers should secure the budget in caring for their employee’s mental health. In this blog, we’ll be talking about what are the benefits of DOLE 208-20 to employers.
Scope of the DOLE 208-20
The issuance was published in February 2020 in response to the 2018 Mental Health Act of the Philippines. This also allows the mental health programs of these private companies and establishments to construct the mental health policy and program to be merged to their Occupational Safety and Health policy and program or OHS and can be further known as Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to be shared with all workers for awareness. Mental Health Policies and Programs can be also extended to the worker’s family members and dependents through CSR Programs (Corporate Social Responsibility) to provide a sound environment for the worker’s wellbeing.
The Mental Health Policies and Programs under this law should be:
- Aiming to advocate and inform workers – this is to make them aware of what is mental health, the importance thereof, their mental health rights, stress management, mental health concerns, and their benefits in workplace mental health. These are the basics when it comes to sharing information with workers.
- Enhancing Worker’s Wellbeing – mental health policies and programs should be inclined to promote mental health self-awareness, stress management, and identification of common mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
- Adhering to ethical standards – when it comes to mental health policy and programs, there is a need to have informed consent, confidentiality measures, non-discriminatory policies and practices, disclosure, and other relevant information.
- Referral system for treatment and rehabilitation – workplaces should invest in self-report assessment tools to determine mental health or hire an in-house or outsourced psychologist for formal assessment and diagnosis of mental health disorders.
- Comply with Benefits and Compensation – workers who have a mental health diagnosis shall receive benefits and compensation from their insurance and government agencies such as Philhealth, SSS, etc
- Support Program – when conducting mental health training as part of the mental health program, there should be an aftercare or support program to cater for the needs of the workers.
What are the benefits of implementing DOLE 208-20?
In the workforce, there are many factors that hinder occupational growth. Mental health concerns are one of them. The mental health of the employees are affected through:
- Workplace setting
- Working environment
- Relationship with Colleagues
- Relationship with bosses
- Overall workload and treatment
If there is a dissatisfaction level on one of these factors, they have the tendency to experience mental health problems. Because the Philippines is still new and adjusting to the implemented mental health programs in some workplaces, these mental health concerns are sometimes left unattended.
Some of the mental health problems encountered in the workplace include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Burn-out
- PTSD
- Mental Health Distress (irritability, mood swings, etc) due to health problems
One of the common workplace mental health problems may lead to another. Many Filipino workers tend to be overworked which can lead to depression and anxiety. Hence, there are mental health programs to be created with the help of mental health service providers.
DOLE 208-20 and the Mental Health Act: Connect Ba?
The Mental Health Service providers adhere to the DOLE 208-20 and Mental Health Act which provides:
1 Normalizing Mental Health Talks
The DOLE 208-20 aims to normalize mental health talks in corporate setting. If employees in the workplace have job-related huddles, they should also have mental health huddles at least once a week, too. In the Philippine society, mental health is not always talked about. Some regions make it taboo. When businesses have mental health talks with qualified professionals teaching employees on stress management, etc and adds it to the workplace huddles, it becomes a culture and a habit to ask how is one another and how can we help. You’ll be surprised by the stories that employees will tell and give people the chance to encourage one another. Mental health talks will be opened up more than ever before with the DOLE 208-20 and Mental Health Act implementation..
2 Maximizing Employee Potential
Employee potential has been minimized due to numerous work stressors. But the mental health act would revolutionalize how the workplace functions; from policies, events, and employee management. With the law mandated, employers or the HR department are given the budget for mental health trainings and seminars in the workplace. If the budget is bigger, they can hire an in-house or outsourced psychologist to cater to mental health concerns at work.
3 Employee Recuperation
When employees work, the business thrives. However, when a business overworks an employee, the employee tends to get burned out. The DOLE 208-20 and Mental Health Act would protect the rights of the employee to work not more than 48 hours a week (including overtime). It would also allow the employee to take a leave for mental health reasons. Concerns in the workplace that involves mental health can be escalated to HR or mental health professional.
Get Onboard with MPsych Services: Your Mental Health Partner
MPsych Services knows that you and your employees are your company’s lifeline. With the help of a mental health service provider, you can start investing in the wellness of your employees. You can also enjoy their trainings inline to DOLE and the Mental Health Act. Check out our services here.