How small businesses are learning to take hold of mental health at work

In 2023, Camille Pocholle, HR director at Novepan, faced unprecedented absenteeism and turnover. Initial attempts to address these issues through better communication and ergonomics failed. Seeking help, they collaborated with the regional agency for work conditions improvement and formed a group with other SMEs facing similar challenges. They discovered that employees needed clearer role definitions and responsibilities, which were previously overlooked. With mental health issues accounting for 38% of work absences, many small businesses struggle to address these challenges due to limited resources and view risk assessment documents as administrative burdens rather than solutions.