At the time of writing this, the world is going through the COVID-19 pandemic. Companies are juggling business viability and staff productivity. Employee’s mental health is featured regularly in the media. Working from home has it challenges. How can an employer promote mental well-being when employees feel isolated? We can focus on what we have control over. For example, engaging with staff and getting them to stay connected. Many organisations are bringing attention to mental wellness and sharing tools for emotional balance.
Effects of a prolonged pandemic
Work from home (WFM) measures were announced in Singapore on 3 April 2020 as part of a package of “circuit breakers”. Many countries also had social distancing guidelines issued. Most companies activated various stages of their Business Continuity Plans (BCP). With home-based work in full swing, how do employees demonstrate productivity remotely? What is missing from the familiar office environment? How can an employer push the agenda of workplace well-being when the workplace itself is distributed geographically?
Let’s be the employee for a moment. Many are not in the right frame of mind. Understandably, many people are feeling anxious about the possibility of catching this infectious respiratory virus. A handful of my clients feel overwhelmed by thoughts of contaminated surfaces and empty supermarket shelves. Those with elderly parents, whether at home or in another country, worry about increased risks. Workers feel frustrated when the pace of doing business slows or is non-responsive. With business volumes dropping — many to a standstill, I have heard of employees feeling concerned about pay cuts or job loss.
Working remotely can be challenging. Video-conferencing tools like Zoom became a common meeting tool. For the older generation, I know a few who are not comfortable having discussions virtually. Many don’t have conducive environments. I’ve met someone who had to make her calls from the family PC which is in the living room! For many participating in my corporate mindfulness sessions online, they appeared stressed. Some switch off the video camera, feeling self-conscious of appearances or home interiors. Ones patience is further tested when the Internet connection disconnects or slows down. So just having employees converge via online meeting platforms is causing a spectrum of unease.
Then there are those with family members at home at the same time. Younger children get restless in between home-based school lessons. With community and recreational venues and places of worship shut, the familiar routines for elderly parents are also disrupted. There’s more housework: tidying, preparing meals, laundry, etc. What about already-strained relationships at home, now further grated with all-day contact? Many clients admit to feeling frustrated and upset, or even disgusted!
Taking charge of mental wellness
Assuming that employees and their teams have clear deliverables and deadlines, I suggest organisations look into two aspects of workplace well-being:
- Keep staff engaged with the company, and stay connected with colleagues
- Raise awareness for mental wellness, and empower staff with tools for self-care
Attend to the social needs of your staff. While employees are keeping in regular contact with their immediate working team, they will miss the company of others from the office. Organise weekly online get-togethers to break the monotony of work and home duties. Maybe have shared experiences over a virtual coffee break or lunch together. Or end the day with virtual group exercise or mindfulness session together. You can do this at a departmental level too.
As I have outlined earlier, employees can be expected to be overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of juggling work, concalls, unplanned duties at home, etc. Add social disconnection and/or loneliness to the mix, and you get a highly stressed adult. Exercise greater patience and tolerance under these unprecedented times. Organise online mindfulness sessions to empower employees with personal skills to manage their own stress levels. Many participants report feeling calm and peaceful during such online sharing.
Next steps: Contact me to organise convenient online corporate sessions on mindfulness for your staff. Help me understand what your needs are so that I can incorporate them into the mental exercises.
