Since its outbreak, the Coronavirus pandemic has impact almost every aspect of our lives. As a business owner, your biggest priority at this moment may be getting your business through the pandemic and potential upcoming recession.
However, as an employer, you have a duty to protect and support the wellbeing of your staff. Now more than ever, you should be prioritising employee wellbeing.
With strict government measures in place up and down the country, including the order to work from home where possible, it may be challenging to support employee wellbeing. But it is crucial.
The Impact Of COVID-19 On Employee Wellbeing
Most businesses have found that, although it isn’t quite the same, remote working does work for their team. However, remote working can leave employees feeling isolated and lonely, particularly if they live alone.
There has also been an influx of cancelled annual and holidays, which as we know, can lead to employee burnout. Similarly, a lack of sufficient breaks throughout the day can also lead to stress amongst employees.
Without the same channels of communication that employees are used to, your staff may not feel comfortable reaching out for help if they are struggling with their workload. This can lead to employees overworking and not prioritising work-life balance. In addition, employees may be worried about the future of their livelihood.
The list of stressors caused by the current global pandemic is never-ending. And without support, the mental wellbeing of your employees will suffer. To avoid work-related stress, anxiety, fatigue, and burnout amongst employees, you need to prioritise employee wellbeing.
Top Tips For Prioritising Employee Wellbeing During The Global Pandemic
At Wellspace, we are revolutionising wellbeing in the workplace. So, we know a thing or two about prioritising employee wellbeing. Here are our top tips for improving employee wellbeing during the Coronavirus pandemic:
Communicate Regularly And Effectively
At the very least, you should have a weekly meeting with your team. It will give everyone the chance to make sure they are on the right track with their projects and provide the opportunity to share workloads. Make use of Zoom’s “breakout rooms” to give employees the chance to communicate with one another.
Setting up a group chat via messenger, such as WhatsApp, will create a fast and easy way for colleagues to stay connected when working from home.
As a leader, you should also take the time to check in on each of your staff members. If you have a large business, the department managers should be checking in regularly with their team members to ensure they are doing OK.
Encourage Work Breaks
When working from home, it can be challenging to maintain a healthy routine. If your team are not taking sufficient breaks, it can lead to reduced productivity and creativity. Plus, it can increase stress. As a leader, it is up to you to make it clear that employees should still be taking their contractual breaks.
Offer Flexibility
With uncertainty surrounding childcare and many schools and nurseries closing due to COVID cases, juggling work and family life can be particularly challenging for employees with children.
Offering flexibility enables your employees to take control of their work-life balance and may be incredibly helpful to those with children at home. Plus, as winter approaches, flexible working hours enables your team to take time out of their day to enjoy outdoor exercise whilst it is still light.
Offer Access To Mental Health Support Services
According to the World Health Organisation, to support employee wellbeing, businesses should ensure that staff are aware of the services available to them.
It may be challenging to create an open, honest workplace culture when your team are working from home. But reminding your team (via email or meetings) that there are support services available may provide help when it is most needs.
Stay Connected Outside Of Work
Aside from impacting our work life, the global pandemic has also impacted how we socialise. With may people still living within ‘local lockdowns’, your employees may not be able to visit their friends or family.
To prevent your employees from feeling isolated, encourage your team to stay connected outside of work hours. Whether it is a weekly Quiz Night via zoom or a “Lockdown Life” group chat, staying connected will prevent low morale amongst your team.
Track Employee Wellbeing
Tracking employee wellbeing via an employee app and online portal will enable you to see which of your employees needs wellbeing support. The Wellspace App allows you to track employee activity, sleep and mental health.
Get In Touch
Here at Wellspace, we create bespoke health and wellness solutions for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Our innovative employee app and portal paired with our Wellbeing Training, will improve the health and wellbeing of your team. By improving employee wellbeing, you will see an improvement in productivity and engagement and a decrease in absenteeism and staff turnover.
If you would like to find out more about Wellspace and the solutions we offer, get in touch. Alternatively, for more advice and tips, head to our blog.
