Building a culture of well-being: Employee mental health support

Employee Assistance Programs — A first line of support globally  

An essential way to support employee mental well-being is offering access to designated, professional support to every team member around the world.

We offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) globally, with unique offerings region to region, that represent a first line of mental health and well-being support. Our EAP offerings include telephonic and web-based resources for topics such as stress, family issues, work/life balance and an online therapy platform in the U.S.; mental health seminars and online psychological counseling resources in Europe; and individual counseling, psychotherapy, and consultation with licensed, in-house psychologists via face-to-face and online sessions across all sites in Asia. Many locations in Asia even feature a well-being center where employees can do walk-in consultations with a psychologist.

Tailoring employee mental health programs worldwide

Understanding that mental health is interconnected with various aspects of overall wellness, many of our locations worldwide provide additional resources to enhance well-being, including support in finance, legal, nutrition, and more.

Our sites in Asia emphasize the importance of early detection and intervention of wellness needs by conducting regular psychological screenings. The Employee Well-being Index (EWI) is used to analyze and better understand employee needs for future programming to better improve accessibility. The index assesses essential aspects such as emotional, physical, social, financial, and career wellness. Team members can view their scores in each category and receive tailored insights aimed at fostering growth and enhancement.

Several sites in Asia offer in-house well-being services such as fitness classes, free dental checks, basic health checks, and more.

Flex Asia Care Program launched to enhance holistic employee well-being

In 2020 we launched the Flex Asia Care Program, inviting wellness experts including medical doctors, nutritionists, physiotherapists, and more to educate employees on wellness topics. Recognizing the essential connection between physical and mental health, the program introduced the Flex Asia Well-being Festival across Asia, featuring region-wide healthy lifestyle challenges, workshops, and talks. These initiatives aim to inspire and equip employees with the practical tools to embark on a fitness journey and enhance overall well-being.

Flex Asia Care Program

Our aim is to provide comprehensive well-being care to support employee mental health and emotional wellness.

Program area focuses:

Smarter lifestyles

Nutrition, finance, and fitness

Social wellness

Influencing and communication skills, parenting, and marriage

Workplace well-being

Career and job satisfaction and motivation

I see mental health as just as important as physical health. The workplace is not a place where I clock in, get my job done, and clock out — I consider it is a part of my community. I am grateful for the Flex Asia Care Program. When I was stressed, I reached out to a program counselor who met with me on the same day. The meeting helped me get back on my feet and remind me that I was not alone.

— Lee Ng, Commodity Manager Mechanical, Flex

Another key program for personalized guidance around well-being is our Harmony Program in Brazil, offering free and unlimited telephone access to therapists for specified communities and guidance for financial, legal, and social services, and more. For example, through the program, members of the LGBTQIA+ community can request specific psychological assistance from professionals within this profile. This, in addition to other initiatives, earned Flex in Brazil recognition as one of the “Best Companies for LGBTQ+ People to Work For” according to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation.

In the spirit of supporting mental health in the context of overall well-being, the site offers extensive physical health benefits. These include individual and personalized services with nutritionists, access to gyms for employees and their dependents, as well as a complimentary remote medical care program focused on those with chronic illnesses and those who are pregnant.

Reducing barriers and investing in enhanced accessibility of resources

Organizations that prioritize mental health not only enhance team members’ well-being, but also drive engagement, retention, and overall performance, according to a Forrester report. A study by the World Health Organization suggests that for every dollar invested in mental health interventions, there is a return of $4 in improved health and productivity. Flex is committed to continuously improving access to mental health resources and helping foster conversations that open the dialogue about wellness.

One of the best ways we support the mental health of employees is to keep the conversations going. We do this by inviting speakers to share their stories, providing resources in newsletters, and through peer-to-peer check-ins. Simply asking your colleagues or team members, “are you doing okay today?” can open doors.

— Trish Harrop, Executive PA, Flex

Around the world, Flex hosts health-related webinars and newsletters. We’ve increased training and resources around mental health, incorporating employee feedback to support topics such as navigating stress, emotional management, and promoting resources like our Ethics Hotline, which is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and in multiple languages.

Localizing mental wellness initiatives at sites around the world

Sites around the world invest in the importance of reflecting, discussing, and raising awareness about mental health through events, resources, volunteering, and more.

The inaugural Flex Asia Well-being Festival in 2023, held across Southeast Asia, China, and India, features activities and challenges aimed at empowering employees to prioritize their well-being.

Team members in Tczew, Poland, participate in a workshop around mental wellness, discussing practical strategies for mental resilience and how to support colleagues in building mentally healthy environments.

Team members in Jaguariuna, Brazil, attend a workshop focused on nutritional guidance, stretching classes, physical assessments and other activities promoting relaxation and wellness.

Achieving our goal of providing 100 percent of our employees’ access to emotional and mental health resources is a landmark accomplishment, but the work continues. We progress on our journey to not only provide useful resources but cultivate a culture with a holistic view of health that support our people, who are at the heart of manufacturing our customers’ great products.