Elizabeth Rankin-Horvath, President and Founder of Hale Health and Safety Solutions Ltd., is an Occupational and Psychological Health and Safety Specialist, Integration Coach and Speaker. During her 20 year career Elizabeth has developed a clear understanding of the link between mental health, occupational health and safety, and business outcomes. She has helped organizations successfully integrate OH&S systems and improve their disability management programs, resulting in significant reductions in injuries, illnesses and claims costs. She was the CSA Group Project Manager on the development of the National Standard of Canada on Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace and now helps organizations create psychologically healthy and safe workplaces where employees and the organization can flourish.
Are you struggling with understanding how or even why to accommodate employees with mental illness? You are not alone. Employers have a legal duty to accommodate employees with mental health issues. Yet, every week in Canada, 500,000 employees are off work because of mental health. It is often environmental or attitudinal barriers keeping them out of the workplace. For those who continue to work with a mental illness, they could be struggling with their performance. Failure to understand the needs of employees with mental health limitations and how to accommodate them perpetuates stigma, is discriminatory and can result in unnecessary absence and potential legal action.
As with a physical disability, with appropriate accommodation, employees with mental health needs can be productive and contribute to the success of the organization. Having a strategy to address accommodation through all stages of employment is essential to meeting your legal duties and is a key ingredient in providing a psychologically healthy and safe workplace for all employees.
