Supporting employees in the workplace used to involve installing healthy snack stations in the canteen, or providing massages on Fridays. But with our workplaces now becoming digital, and so many more employees working from home, how we support those who work for our company has completely changed.
But there’s never been a more important time to provide support. This pandemic has affected all of us physically and mentally, and the impact will be felt for generations. According to research done in 2020 by the Harvard Business Review* with global employees, it was found that the mental health of 42% of respondents had declined since the outbreak began. If we want to protect a company’s most valuable asset, its people, here are some ideas to consider.
1.) Practice honesty and vulnerability
Destigmatising mental health issues starts with a company’s leadership. After all, employees will be much more likely to share any problems they’re experiencing if they work in a culture that encourages speaking up and being vulnerable. More senior employees sharing mental health stories is a good way to start having honest conversations, so that anyone suffering in silence can receive the support they need.
2.) Check in often
We’ve all got Zoom fatigue and the thought of yet another meeting may feel like too much. But the days fly by, and if you don’t schedule in regular meetings with your employees, you could easily lose track of their overall wellbeing. Diarise monthly meetings with your team (or more frequently), where you don’t talk about work tasks, but rather their overall health and state of mind. Here, you can ask more specific questions about their lives, seeing what customised support you can provide to them so they can continue to do their best jobs.
3.) Help them manage their health proactively
In many cases, government lockdown restrictions have meant that institutions like yoga studios or football clubs have had to close their doors, completely disrupting our exercise routines. We’ve also been reaching for the comfort food, and it’s no wonder with all the uncertainty out there. But physically unhealthy employees are much more likely to catch viruses, plus it affects their mental health too. Simply asking your employees to start living healthier lives possibly won’t work, but using a structured programme like the Fedhealth Weight Management Programme will. Together with a biokineticist, dietician and behavioural psychologist, any underlying issues can be addressed, so that your employees can lose weight and get healthier in a sustainable way.
4.) Support local & build community
How do you build employee community remotely? The local coffee shop that used to sell coffee each morning to your employees is probably struggling financially right now. As well as the florist round the corner, or the sandwich shop they used to go to at lunchtime. If you have budget available that you previously spent on employee travel or events, use that to support local businesses instead, and give your employees some sort of treat or incentive. Perhaps it’s vouchers for coffees, or a house plant to cheer them up, or a free lunch once a week?
5.) Give recognition
Most of us are going beyond the call of duty to still get our jobs done in the midst of home schooling, health scares and more. And that needs to be acknowledged. If you used to have annual employee awards, perhaps you adapt that to hold monthly ones, highlighting the names of people who have done extraordinary things? Even small prizes like the aforementioned vouchers are enough to make people feel valued, and encourage them to continue doing their best work.
Many employers stepped up to provide support when Covid-19 first hit, but the question now is how do we adapt in the long term, as this pandemic becomes part of our ongoing lives? Strong employees mean a stronger company, and we must make them a priority if we want any sort of longevity in an uncertain world.
