Much has been said about the economic shockwaves of COVID-19. The impact on business operations all around the globe has been immense. But what about the psychological impact on our workforces?

As many people have had to work from home either full- or part-time over recent weeks due to the social distancing measures necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, employers would do well to help their employees take care of their mental health and wellbeing at home.

Unprecedented risks to workers’ mental health

Encouraging resilience, adaptability and collaboration should be key priorities for avoiding the potential adverse consequences of a decline in staff mental health. A recent report by the WHO, Mental Health and Psychosocial Considerations During the COVID-19 Outbreak, highlights the specific negative impacts isolation can have on our mental health such as a heightened state of stress, anxiety, anger and agitation. It’s not surprising that all these consequences can erode our ability to work effectively and cope with daily pressures.

In the short-term, mental wellbeing is crucial to work performance with the WHO revealing that poor mental health already costs the global economy US$1 trillion per year in lost productivity. Preserving healthy states of mind within your team today can help ensure employees stay fit and ready to transition back to “normality” and for a potential spike in workload when the time comes to return to the office.

Indeed, here are a few things you can do to help improve your workers’ mental health at home.

Be supportive and inclusive

Business leaders need to bring out the best in their employees by nurturing their employee relationships. Falling foul of the “out of sight, out of mind” approach – even if it’s subconscious – will be one of your worst enemies as a leader in the current situation. Always keep communication lines open with your team members through email, telephone, live chat tools and video calls.

Managing your delivery carefully is also key. Use a tone that not only shows you are a calm voice of reason, but also a highly approachable leader that can reassure staff and properly address any employee questions or concerns.

Having two-way conversations with employees about your own experiences working remotely could also help foster loyalty and strong employee relationships. But be mindful of what people aren’t saying, too. By creating and emphasising an inclusive environment in the current situation, it will help to instil an ongoing sense of comfort and trust in sharing issues and challenges long into the future.

Inject some social time (virtually)

The unspoken social element of working physically alongside people plays a vital part in maintaining our mental health at home. So, don’t let this go amiss throughout COVID-19. Team leaders should think of ways to leverage digital technology to inject a fun, social element into the working week. Some ideas might include virtual coffees or Friday drinks, online group games, themed dress competitions, and virtually celebrating birthdays and achievements.

Setting up a Whatsapp group or using videoconferencing software could also be a great way to instil a continuing feeling of presence among colleagues. All these techniques to maintain connection and cohesiveness will ensure colleagues don’t feel as though they’ve lost touch or that they need to build relationships from scratch when the time comes to return to the office.

Be adaptable and accommodating

Until now, the ability to work from home, by itself, has been associated with the type of increased workplace flexibility and adaptability that helps to improve mental health and wellbeing. But now, companies must go a step further in ensuring everyone has the flexibility they need to make their new routines work best.

One of the biggest reasons why you might need to offer a little extra flexibility throughout the week is because many parents are having to balance home schooling and all-day childcare. Allowing your staff to work alternative hours or even a condensed working week could help them eliminate a few of those additional stresses in the current situation.

Set non work-related goals

It could be time to temporarily add some alternative action items to the usual work-related goals and priorities, not only to promote better mental wellbeing now, but also to encourage a healthier work-life balance in the long term which could improve productivity.

For example, establish some physical exercises your employees could do during the day such as walking, cycling, or even using a home gym. You could also offer time for staff to pursue some other personal goals such as learning a language, practising music or engaging in arts.

Offer a varied routine

Human beings are naturally routine-oriented creatures, which means one of the biggest challenges of working from home five-days-a-week is not being able to tell apart one day from the next. To stop each day from feeling the same, try to shift your management style to ensure everyone in your team has variation throughout their working week.

For example, this could be the ideal time to focus on professional development and multi-skilling by giving people time to collaborate with others on new projects.

Promote company resources (if available)

If available, make sure you remind your employees of the (internal or external) resources that they might have access to as part of their employment, such as counsellors or a support hotline. On the other hand, if you’re not sure what resources are available, reach out to HR to help you identify the most appropriate support for your staff under current circumstances.

Not all managers can provide the mental health support that some employees might need. In this case, it’s important for all leaders to be able to recognise their limitations and know what alternative course of action to take. This approach could ensure staff have the means to keep on top of their mental health now and through the transition period back to the office.

Mental health at home, a priority

Working remotely doesn’t mean you can’t engage a hands-on approach to helping your team maintain their mental health at home. While it’s always necessary to maintain balance and a sense of autonomy, implementing a few unique tactics during this time could help staff keep up productivity while positioning them well to bounce back.

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