Good morning!
The results are in, and Trump won.
In doing so, he made more than half of American voters happy. But the others? Not so much. A huge number of people are struggling to process the election results this week. And because many people spend a third of their lives at work, they will be bringing those feelings into the office.
Smart bosses and HR leaders likely did their best to create a calm workplace in the run up to the presidential election. But now that the race is over, bosses may be dealing with a different kind of problem: A significant number of dispirited workers.
“Going into this election, the country was divided almost 50-50. So that means half of the people in our workplaces are very upset today.” Jennifer Dulski, CEO of Rising Team, a workplace software company, tells Fortune.
Fortune spoke with experts about what bosses, people leaders, and HR managers can do to help workers struggling mentally this week, and in the months following the election. They say that time off can be super critical for workers to process their feelings, but even allowing people to work remotely could go a long way.
“Just acknowledge that other people get some solace from walking their dog, petting their cat, taking a walk in nature,” Angela Kimball, national director of advocacy and public policy at the National Alliance on Mental Illness, tells Fortune.
It can also be helpful to remind workers about the mental health benefits they do have. A single enrollment-period presentation probably isn’t going to leave a lasting impression for most employees, who may not even know they have access to counseling and other wellness benefits.
“Give them the phone number again, give them the link again, send out blast emails. Give them the information that they need to cope,” Maria Trapenasso, head of human capital solutions at NFP, a global benefits consultant and insurance broker, tells Fortune.
And although it’s important for leaders to avoid alienating employees by pushing their own political beliefs in the workplace, showing a human touch is important. It’s OK to let people know that you care about how they’re feeling.
“Your leader can influence your mental health as much as anyone in your life,” Leena Rinne, global head of coaching at Skillsoft, tells Fortune. “Including your partner.”
You can read the full story on how to support employee mental health this election week here.
Emma Burleigh
emma.burleigh@fortune.com
Brit Morse
brit.morse@fortune.com
Today's edition was curated by Brit Morse.
