As the professional world adapts to virtual work, it is critical to look after the mental health of remote employees. You’ll learn strategies in this post to guarantee you’re giving it the attention it deserves.
Since the pandemic breakout, workplaces and offices have been closed abruptly, introducing a new method of working. In Europe and America, one out of every four people today works remotely, and this number is anticipated to rise in the future. While remote working has numerous advantages, it has a negative impact on employee mental health. In fact, according to Forbes, 45 percent of respondents say working from home has harmed their mental health.
In this essay, we’ll discuss how to look after the mental health of your remote workers. Whether your firm decides to return to office work or not, following these guidelines will help everyone stay mentally healthy while working remotely.
Encourage remote workers to take time off
Employee mental health is being harmed by a failure to take time off work to rest, relax, and seek support. Given that remote employees are significantly more likely to continue working despite claiming to be on vacation, encouraging personal time away from the “office” is more vital than ever.
Managers must lead by example, as staff often feel unable to take time off while their bosses work 80-hour weeks. As a result, you could set an example by booking some annual leave and taking a vacation to promote your employees’ mental health and encourage additional time off work. If you do that, your employees will follow suit.
Strive for a healthy work-life balance
When you work from home, it’s easier than ever to work longer hours, stay on top of your to-do list, and concentrate on tasks ‘after hours.’
It can be harmful to your mental health if you don’t take time away from the screen and properly turn off from work. Maintaining your mental health and fitness requires prioritizing a healthy work/life balance.
Why not place a reminder in your diary to finish work at specified times and practice self-compassion if you find yourself easily sidetracked with job chores, routinely working extra, and forgetting to take breaks?
Taking care of yourself will improve your emotional well-being, lower your stress levels, and promote good mental and physical health.
If you want to maintain a decent work/life balance, it’s sometimes best to schedule breaks. You can lead by example and encourage your colleagues to do the same once you’ve established the tactics for keeping a solid work/life balance.
Check in with employees on a regular basis
Working from home might be lonely. It’s critical to check in with your employees on a frequent basis, whether they’re working from bustling homes, cafes, or on their own. Google Meet, Slack, and Zoom are all excellent online platforms for staying in touch with the individuals you want to.
Simply schedule these check-ins so that your team knows what to anticipate instead of getting inundated with meeting requests throughout the day.
Team Leaders Should Be Involved
Mental health should be taken seriously in the same way that physical health is, and this message must come from the top of your organization for employees to feel engaged and supported.
Encourage team leaders to become advocates for mental health issues and to provide support to employees who are experiencing difficulties. One of the most effective tactics for ensuring your team receives the help they require and feels supported is to educate them on mental health and the best ways to provide support.
Make Your Company’s Resources Known
When employees are having difficulties, they may not know where to turn. Communicating your company’s resources is an excellent method to create awareness of the various support options available to struggling employees. Whether you offer free therapy, mental health days, or health insurance policies, your employees should be aware of these benefits so they may seek help if necessary.
Make Employee Assistance Programs available
When it comes to business resources, many companies are increasingly include Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) in their benefits packages.
These fantastic programs assist employees with stress management, depression, marriage and family concerns, childcare, legal and financial issues, addiction, and a variety of other issues.
The best part is that Employee Assistance Programs are absolutely free and private. Offering an Employee Assistance Program is one of the finest methods to help your team’s mental health if you’ve been looking for a means to do so.
Encourage Physical Activity Every Day
Exercise has long been recognized for its health advantages. It should come as no surprise, however, that encouraging daily physical activity is an excellent strategy to help remote workers manage their mental health.
Breaking a sweat can assist activate the body’s feel-good hormones and promote the release of any tension, according to study. But how do you get remote staff to exercise on a regular basis?
Employee well-being is also aided by at-home yoga and fitness memberships. Others, on the other hand, create monthly fitness challenges for their staff, encouraging them to get outside every day and walk, run, cycle, or swim in order to get points. The team with the most points at the end of the month receives a paid day off (or whatever gift you deem most appropriate). While everyone is working from home, a little friendly competition, especially when it gets people outside and moving, is a terrific approach to boost your team’s health and wellness.
‘Thank you’ should be a top priority
“Thank you” is a phrase you probably don’t hear very frequently. Employee appreciation, in our perspective, has plummeted with the advent of remote working. It’s lot simpler for hardworking employees to go undetected and unappreciated these days, which can have disastrous consequences for employee mental health. After all, no one wants to put in a lot of effort only to be unappreciated for it.
Thank you notes are a crucial method to remind your remote workers that you appreciate their efforts and that you care. And sometimes all it takes is a simple thank you to give your staff that extra lift at the end of a long week. Genuine praise and honest acknowledgement go a long way toward creating a happy and mentally healthy staff.
Throughout the year, managers and company leaders play a critical role in promoting employee mental health. Individuals with mental health issues typically suffer in secret, and remote working has made it even easier for troubled employees to go unrecognized. So, we hope that these strategies have convinced you that there are steps you can do to help your remote employees’ mental health in the long run.
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