# Helping employees recover from remote working’s mental health implications Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-04-28 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: The Impact of Remote Working on Emotional Wellbeing Meta Description: Explore the potential stress and isolation factors of remote working highlighted by Nuffield Health research. Discover how employers can support their teams in URL: https://financedigest.com/helping-employees-recover-from-remote-workings-mental-health-implicationshtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/helping-employees-scaled-1736838401158-compressed.jpg) _By **Brendan Street,** Professional Head of Emotional Wellbeing, [Nuffield Health](http://www.nuffieldhealth.com/emotionalwellbeing)_ The global pandemic has seen many employees suddenly required to work from, often embracing the positive aspects of remote working – like a reduced commute, the opportunity for exercise or spending extra time with family. However, the change has taken its toll on other aspects of our lives. As we look forward to restrictions easing, it’s important to note the [‘new normal’](https://www.financedigest.com/how-banks-can-triumph-in-the-new-normal.html "HOW BANKS CAN TRIUMPH IN THE ‘NEW NORMAL’") is likely to include continued remote working opportunities and employees will have new challenges to face. So, it’s important employers are able to support their team in the ‘new normal’ **The emotional wellbeing impact of** [remote working class=”m\_2025159142114962275eop”>](https://www.financedigest.com/7-tips-for-building-a-positive-remote-work-culture.html "7 tips for building a positive remote work culture") [7 tips for building a positive remote work culture](https://www.financedigest.com/7-tips-for-building-a-positive-remote-work-culture.html "7 tips for building a positive remote work culture") [Remote working is often viewed as a work perk, giving](https://www.financedigest.com/7-tips-for-building-a-positive-remote-work-culture.html "7 tips for building a positive remote work culture") [employees the flexibility to manage their personal and professional lives](https://www.financedigest.com/5-ways-to-support-your-employees-during-the-cost-of-living-crisis.html "5 ways to support your employees during the cost of living crisis ") in equal measures. However, [Nuffield Health research](https://www.nuffieldhealth.com/working-remotely-whitepaper) suggests the stress and isolation of remote working can take its toll on the mental wellbeing of remote workers. That’s why [remote working](https://www.financedigest.com/shoring-up-cyber-defences-in-the-remote-working-era.html "Shoring up cyber defences in the remote working era") shouldn’t be a blanket benefit for all employees. Employers should take the time to make sure [flexible arrangements work](https://www.financedigest.com/the-flexible-working-revolution-is-here-so-why-arent-you-tracking-expenses-on-the-go.html "‘The flexible working revolution is here – so why aren’t you tracking expenses on the go?’") for the individual. Remote working is often viewed as a benefit for the younger, tech-savvy workforce; however, our whitepaper revealed most remote workers are over 40 [years old](https://www.financedigest.com/out-with-the-old-make-a-new-year-resolution-to-get-rid-of-that-unwanted-timeshare.html "Out with the old! Make a New Year resolution to get rid of that unwanted timeshare"). However, an [employee is not better suited by age or length of service](https://www.financedigest.com/four-tips-to-help-reduce-employee-ghosting-in-financial-services.html "Four tips to help reduce employee ghosting in financial services"), but by their ability to be productive and maintain a healthy relationship with work outside the office. Those able to use their initiative and who are confident tackling tasks alone are suited to working remotely, plus employees who are self-disciplined and self-motivated, as they’ll be required to [manage much of their time](https://www.financedigest.com/time-management-strategies-that-work.html "Time management strategies that work"). An ability to separate [work from home](https://www.financedigest.com/working-from-home-everyone-is-different.html "Working from home, everyone is different.") life is also key. Just because you’re using your [home as a work base for the day](https://www.financedigest.com/man-charged-under-britains-treason-act-over-christmas-day-incident-at-queens-home.html "Man charged under Britain’s Treason Act over Christmas Day incident at queen’s home"), doesn’t mean you should be checking emails into the evening or working an unhealthy amount of overtime. There is a limit to how many hours we can sustainably work in a day, every day, before exhaustion takes over and we find ourselves unable to cope, an occupational phenomenon now defined by the WHO as [‘burnout’.](https://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/burn-out/en/) Plus, while those new to remote working may thrive under the added flexibility of remote working, spending _too_ long (over 2.5 days per week) away from the office can also have a negative [impact on job satisfaction and work](https://www.financedigest.com/how-has-hybrid-working-impacted-the-gender-gap.html "How has hybrid working impacted the gender gap?") relationships. This, in turn, can lead to feelings of isolation and stress, as [employees struggle to clock-off and can’t seek immediate support or advice from a manager](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-manage-burnout-and-how-leaders-should-support-employee-wellbeing-tom-keya.html "How to manage burnout and how leaders should support employee wellbeing | Tom Keya"). --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---