Mental Health awareness for employers & employees during the COVID19 crisis. How can businesses support their employees?
It is Mental Health Awareness week 2020 & now more than ever we are more mindful of the need to consider our mental health in all aspects of our lives. The COVID19 pandemic crisis has had dramatic & life changing impact on all of lives & we have all had to adjust to restrictions we never thought we would see in our lifetimes.
Along with comprehensive movement restrictions, lock downs, being separated from family, being furloughed, staying at home & working from home, has come a considerable strain on our collective mental health.
Many many people have found themselves cut off from the outside world for nearly two months. Workers who have been sent home in their millions have had to adjust to either a furloughed life or a life of working from home. With some 44% of working adults have been working from home, as opposed to only 12% this time last year (Source: Government press conference data) we are all having to learn to adapt & change our way of living, to adapt to a ‘new normal’
However, as the UK Government lays out it’s road map to recovery, we are seeing an easing of lockdown measures, while those who can return to work safely are being encouraged to do so. However, this entails some considerable logistical changes for employers & employees. In addition, the adjustments may in a lot of cases heighten anxieties already being felt by employees.
Therefore, Virtually Smart Ltd have gathered some ideas to help support employees & their mental health needs.
Note: Virtually Smart Ltd do not claim to be health care professionals. The ideas here are based on a common sense approach.
Flexible working hours
For many employees who have been furloughed & or already working from home during the crisis; working full or part time flexible hours could be an option going forward.
Employers across the country are offering more flexible working patterns to employees, which could help them to create a better work life balance, help ease their anxieties about exposing themselves full time to a work place/travelling, etc & the companies can still benefit from the expertise these individuals have to offer.
Access to confidential mental health & welfare support lines
Mental health support lines have been available in larger businesses, academic organisations & Government offices for many years. Many companies offer this as a free service to their employees, but there has always been a stigma attached that even though they are confidential, can information be used to affect an employee’s permanency within a company?
With a heightened emphasis on mental health & well-being for employees becoming a priority; employers can actively seek out support lines for their staff & actively promote them within their businesses as a way of alleviating some of the pressures of the anxieties being felt & endured throughout the crisis.
Mindfulness
Many companies are forging forward with the use of Mindfulness. Encouraging employees to practise Mindfulness & providing guidance for this, could really help furloughed, working from home or employees returning to the workplace.
Mindfulness takes so many forms, but helping staff to remain in the present & or seek ways to take a moment of peace to reflect; can have outstanding benefits to an employee’s mental health & their productivity.
Social groups
Many employers & employees have started using Zoom & other platforms to remain in contact during the crisis & although it is quite draining to be engaged online for a considerable amount of time; it also helps people stay connected.
Starting Whatsapp groups or social groups to keep employees connected & talking to each other, can help ease the stress of isolation.
Employers have a responsibility to support their employers through this crisis, emotionally as well as financially. Helping employees feel connected to their work, to their colleagues & to make them feel valued; can have serious impact on their mental health.
These are only a few practical ideas which can help employees & create a more productive environment for everyone.
Written by Katy-Jane on behalf of Virtually Smart Ltd
