NASHVILLE, Tenn. — From civil unrest to the COVID-19 pandemic, the past few years have taken a toll on workers, said Kristin Tugman, a consultant on health and productivity. “We have to recognize that employees who are coming through the door are likely in fight-or-flight.” Employers can try to improve mental health in the workplace by being intentional and being tuned into how workers are doing, Tugman said. “If you’ve got an employee who has been late since day one, missed deadlines since day one, it’s probably a performance issue.” That becomes especially important, she said, as the mental health crisis worsens, exacerbated by rising healthcare costs and delayed care.