EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine August 2020 | Page 13

Terry said the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better.
“I think we’re not going to see the real impact for six to 12
months,” he said. “I think what is most important about Covid-19
is there are some hidden things happening because of self-isolation,
including substance abuse, depression, anxiety and child abuse.”
Terry said healthcare workers themselves are also affected by
the pandemic.
“Healthcare workers have had tremendous anxiety and
depression because they are on the front lines,” he said. “We want
people to go into stores and walk certain ways, but in a hospital
system, you don’t have that option.”
While offering employee assistance programs and other health
and wellness opportunities is good for workers, it is also a benefit
for businesses themselves.
At Daytona Beach-based Brown & Brown,
employee wellness – both physical and
mental – has long been a focus, according to
Brian Pinkalla, director of team resources –
employment practices, at the company.
“We have a robust suite of resources on the
Brian Pinkalla employee assistance side,” he said, adding the
company takes “an holistic approach” to employee healthcare.
“Not only mental and behavioral, but also things like work/
life balance, physical health, diet, getting good sleep, exercise and
tobacco cessation,” he said.
Pinkalla said the company has always had “some kind of
employee assistance program” available and that comes from
Brown and Brown’s top leadership.
And the focus has not only been good for employee health, but
for the health of the company’s bottom line as well.
“Healthy teammates that are doing well emotionally and
physically are more productive and they are generally happier,”
Pinkalla said. “And those teammates tend to stick around longer.
It’s just generally good for business.”
As businesses reopen and more people return to work, the need
for mental health services for employees is likely to grow.
Aaron London is a reporter and columnist who has
covered business and economics for 27 years. He has
worked for newspapers in Ohio and Florida and is
also an adjunct professor of journalism at Daytona
State College.
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