How Companies Can Support Workers as Anti-Asian Crimes Rise

May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Month and should be a time to celebrate the rich history, influence and contributions of the AAPI community. Yet we’re still seeing a growing number of anti-Asian hate crimes at a national level, which is impacting the overall mental health of the community. According to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, crimes targeting those of Asian and Pacific Island descent in the U.S. rose 339% nationwide in 2021. Some of the most recent Asian hate incidents have included verbal assaults on the train, being pushed onto the train tracks and physical assaults while simply walking down the street or entering their own homes. With more companies having their employees return to the office, it has been challenging for those in the Asian community to get to work safely when almost half of these hate incidents took place in public spaces, including streets (31.2%), mass transit (8.4%) and parks (8%). May also happens to be Mental Health Awareness Month. Last year did not end up bringing the return to normalcy we'd all hoped for, and most people continue to feel exhausted and burnt out. Asians, in particular, recognize the pandemic's effects on their mental and emotional health, with 77% reporting they would leave their employer if they did not prioritize their well-being. Since 2020, when hate-fueled incidents against the AAPI community began to rise, multiple campaigns to combat anti-Asian crimes have been launched. But there remains a greater need beyond awareness to prevent it and have resources available to help those feeling the overwhelming fear and anxiety of leaving their own home. Companies can play a vital role by being aware of the current events involving Asian hate incidents and providing culturally relevant resources to support their Asian employees’ mental and physical health. Here are seven ways brands can help create a culture of understanding and support: Offer mental health resources, including an employee assistance program covering therapy and counseling.Help employees by offering flexible work schedules, work-from-home options and paid time off for mental health days.Provide training for managers on how to best support Asian employees during this time.Create an anonymous reporting system for racist behavior at work to help employees feel safe and heard.Foster an inclusive company culture that promotes mental health and diversity by holding employee sensitivity and cultural education trainings.Create internal support groups that are a safe space to discuss mental health and current events to promote open conversation.Connect employees to external resources such as community organizations and support groups. By offering these resources, companies would send a strong message of how they value their employees and are willing to help them navigate this difficult time by creating a more inclusive and collaborative work environment. To get started in providing resources to Asian employees, below are some essential websites they can include in their support tool kit: Asian Americans Advancing Justice is an online resource of mental health providers who speak a variety of Asian languages.The Asian Mental Health Project offers educational resources related to mental health issues affecting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, providing access to free, 24/7 support. Text 741741 from anywhere in the U.S. to connect with a live, trained crisis counselor. This article is part of a special Voice series, AAPI Voices Shaping the Future of Representation. In this series, we will hear from AAPI industry leaders on the cultural nuances marketers should be informed on in addition to current challenges the AAPI community faces.