Corporate Culture

Culture Change is the Cutting Edge of Mental Health Benefits at Work

NEW YORK (Reuters) – When Hartmut Braune comes to work in security communications at SAP, he never knows what emergency will land in his inbox.

It is a challenging job, compounded by the fact that Braune also coordinates the company’s global Lighthouse Core Team, which provides peer assistance to struggling employees, as well as a shoulder to cry on.

“It’s the difficult part, but sometimes tears help clear the situation,” said Braune, who is based in Germany.

Many companies offer employee assistance programs, mindfulness apps or in-office counseling. But experts say a culture shift toward openness, from the C-suite on down, is most effective. That translates to peer counseling, colleagues sharing their experiences and open dialogue.

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