Apr 16, 2020
NOD Corporate Leadership Council Members Address Mental Health In The Workplace During The COVID-19 Pandemic
NEW YORK (April 16, 2020) – The National Organization on Disability (NOD) today hosted a Webcast for its Corporate Leadership Council members entitled “Mental Health Disabilities in the Workplace: Moving from Conversation to Action”. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our world, an increasing number of employees may be facing mental health challenges ranging from social isolation to the stress and anxiety, caused by not knowing when this health crisis will end. This timely and important discussion focused on how employers are working to combat the stigma associated with mental health disabilities in the workplace.
“The National Organization on Disability works alongside global corporate leaders to create diverse and inclusive workplaces, including breaking down the mental health stigma,” said NOD President Carol Glazer. “This unprecedented health crisis requires us to collectively take action and openly talk about mental health disabilities. If employers fail to create more inclusive cultures that allow employees to feel comfortable asking for accommodations and supports as they cope with this pandemic, they will be doing a disservice to their workforce and to their brand more broadly.”
A recent poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed half of Americans believe COVID-19 is impacting their mental health, which is impacting all aspects of life – work included.
The webcast, moderated by Karen Brown, Global Diversity & Inclusion Executive Consultant, Bridge Arrow, featured an esteemed line-up of corporate and civic leaders including:
- Anupa Iyer, Policy Advisor, Office of Federal Operations, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Craig Kramer, Mental Health Ambassador and Chair, Global Campaign for Mental Health, in Neuroscience External Affairs at Janssen R&D, a Johnson & Johnson company
- Mark Riley, GM for Innovation, Dow Jones
These leaders spoke about the importance of promoting safe environments so employees have the confidence to speak up about their mental health and, in turn, managers can provide accommodations and supports. They also shared systemic changes companies can make to increase productivity in the workplace and have a healthier organization overall.
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