A Remote-Working Guide: Top 11 Ways Companies Can Assist Their Employees Regarding Mental Health

It is becoming more and more evident that the arising challenges caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have thrown the world into turmoil. Not only does it threaten human lives, but it also creates emotional distress.

Many employees have been forced to work remotely for the first time, and socially distancing from family, friends, and colleagues, economic hardships and stressful experiences have brought about concerns regarding mental health. Furthermore, these issues result in low productivity and have a negative impact on society. As stated by The World Health Organization it is estimated that depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy 1 trillion US$ each year in lost productivity. 

Therefore, it is important for companies to realize the impact behavioural health has on employee’s efficiency. Leaders must react with solutions to support their employees through this transition and help them to adapt and cope with the disruption caused by COVID-19.

Many companies have already been prioritizing their investments in tools that support remote work. These tools also consist of ways to address mental health problems and dealing with the burdens of the hybrid workplace.

Employers are being asked to consider the measures that should be taken to help employees with their work-life balance and the pressure from being digitally occupied all day. They also need to provide systems and benefits in order to support employees with mental health issues. Below are a number of suggestions that companies can approach to solve the difficulties presented by this sudden shift in the workplace regarding mental health.

Some of the recommended practices for Employers to consider incorporating into their daily interactions are:

1. Showing empathy, acknowledging employees’ worries and recognizing the impact of isolation and social distancing. Companies should encourage them to talk about their concerns and seek help from mental health platforms.

2. Reassuring employees about their work insecurities and other issues such as meeting their necessities including food and housing. They also need to be able to take paid sick leaves and have funds or bonuses to help them face the unpredictable challenges they might come across.

3. Each company should organize a mental-health plan for their current state and also for the future by providing therapy and counselling sessions to support. For example, according to the Wall Street Journal, Starbucks announced that it would offer 20 free therapy sessions per year for all of its employees, including part-time workers, as part of their mental-health benefit plan. Employees require a workplace platform that offers virtual or in-person confidential therapy to help them with their mental health issues.

4. Using platforms with artificial intelligence to screen individuals and arrange counselors for the workers’ behavioural health problems. By using predictive analytics these platforms provide customized care and services and sustain the employees’ psychological well-being.

5. Aiding employees with the funds to design a suitable workplace at home to make them feel more comfortable.

6. Connecting the team with communication tools. Holding virtual events to help employees bond with each other while enjoying themselves can prove to be effective.

7. Providing employees with child/adolescent/elder back up care to put their minds at ease. Some companies offer parenting webinars to help parents manage their work and life without experiencing a burnout.

8. Managers should consider how employees can have access to resources regarding mental health, adapting to teleworking and the pandemic. The Human Resources Hotline should also be available for HR-related questions.

9. Employees need to be educated on how to recognize the common signs that their co-worker might be struggling with mental health issues and encourage them to seek help from professionals. For more information regarding warning signs click here.

10. Hosting webinars, creating podcasts, motivating employees to talk about their mental health and launching educational programs can help individuals manage their wellbeing.

11. Since there’s a stigma around mental health, it’s suggested that managers and leaders open up more about these issues to encourage workers to step forth and break the stereotypes surrounding mental illnesses. With overcoming this challenge, more people will be able to put their fears aside and seek help.

Remote working is a change in both the way people work and their lifestyle therefore many employees working remotely claim to feel anxious and burned out which results in decreasing job satisfaction, work performance, and productivity. People who try to uphold a better mental health state are about two times more likely to maintain or even improve their productivity. Confusing work-life boundaries, psychological overload from being behind a screen all day, and pandemic-related stress are a few of the difficulties remote workers might experience which can take its toll on their duties.

In other words, managers need to understand why employees might be having hardships and for what reason remote working can be demanding. Successful leadership today includes planning for the future hybrid workplace and sustaining the employees’ productivity. Considering the fact that anxiety and stress affect one’s work performance, by planning ahead for dealing with these issues, companies can improve their output

Espiritmind (EM) being a mental health platform that scans the mental health status of the employees and offers them confidential therapy can also track their improvement. By connecting workers to a suitable counsellor, EM can prove to be a long-term solution for the challenges presented to employees.