While efforts to connect people going through tough times to counselors may be helpful, the efforts are not sufficient. For instance, it’s not good enough just to get “troubled workers” to treatment when the workplace environment is filled with psychosocial hazards like prejudice and discrimination. When we look at a more comprehensive approach to issues of trauma, addiction and distress, we see we have more work to do.
We need also fix our environments – make them psychologically healthy and safe for all.
In other words, prejudice and discrimination are often root causes of people who are emotionally unwell and just giving people coping skills, building resilience and encouraging self-care do not solve these problems.
How do we help ensure our well-being efforts meet the needs of a diverse workforce?
When people of color are encouraged to seek counseling, many barriers often exist. Mental health providers lack representation from communities of color, and this often lack skills culturally responsive care. To make things more challenging, some diverse cultures have strong norms and religious taboos around accessing formal mental health services.
In this episode, I speak with the Vice President of Field Culture and Inclusion at Clayco, Dan Lester. Dan is also a tireless mental health advocate. In our conversation, we start to connect these workplace challenges in meaningful ways and get comfortable being uncomfortable.
Three takeaways:
1. Work to see ALL of the people around you. Even the ones that push you out of your comfort zone.
2. Get in the game. Behave until you believe.
3. Don't forget about yourself. You are the answer to your problems.
About Dan Lester
As the Vice President of Field Culture and Inclusion at Clayco, Dan leads the strategic
integration of inclusion education and training throughout the entire Enterprise. Dan
Lester is entrusted with maintaining and elevating employee satisfaction by creating a
work environment employees look forward to while ensuring low burnout rates.
Dan is nationally recognized as a thought leader and innovator in the
operationalization of inclusion on job sites, construction administration, and leadership.
As a thought leader, his training focuses on endeavors that affect employees' mental
health and psychological safety within job site culture and make them more inclusive.
Dan is a Certified Construction Suicide Prevention Trainer and Mental Health First
Aider.
Dan is active across many organizations and serves on the Construction Career
Development Initiative board, which he helped found. He also serves on the Missouri
S&T Miner Alumni Association Board of Directors and Academy of Miner Athletics.
Dan graduated from the Missouri University of Science & Technology in 2005 with a
Bachelor of Science in Business and Management Information Systems and a Minor
in Information Science and Technology.
Fun Fact: He is from a family of superheroes.
Show Notes
Clayco Rising: https://claycorising.com/
DEI and Mental Health
“Mental health is the next frontier of the diversity, equity, and inclusion movement”
https://www.mindsharepartners.org/diversityinclusion
Mental Health First Aid: “Why Employee Mental Health Should be Part of Your Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategy”
Forbes: The Essential Role Of Mental Health For A Diverse, Inclusive Workplace
Psychological Safety Reports
How Psychological Safety Creates Cohesion: A Leader’s Guide
https://www.army.mil/article/245626/how_psychological_safety_creates_cohesion_a_leaders_guide
Google & Psychological Safety
https://rework.withgoogle.com/print/guides/5721312655835136/
Harvard Business Review: “It’s a New Era for Mental Health at Work”
https://hbr.org/2021/10/its-a-new-era-for-mental-health-at-work
McKinsey & Company https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/well-being-in-the-workplace
