# Supporting Your Employees Mental Health WFH Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-01-28 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: Supporting Mental Health in 2020: Advice for Employers Meta Description: Successfully support your team's mental health by sharing positive news and replicating office perks remotely. Learn how Bruntwood Works is leading the URL: https://financedigest.com/supporting-your-employees-mental-health-wfhhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2021-2-1736838608698-compressed.jpg) The lockdown has forced millions of people to quickly adapt to a new way of living and working in 2020, and while we adjusted quickly, it took its toll on our mental health. Over a quarter of UK tech professionals (26 percent) reported experiencing higher levels of stress during lockdown than they did before, while 1 in 3 (36 percent) reported that their mental health deteriorated “As employers, organisations have a duty of care to help their employees and in many countries, they have a legal obligation to do so,” says Kirsty Iliffe, researcher at the [Institution of Organisational Safety and Health (IOSH)](https://iosh.com/). “The ongoing stress of the pandemic could lead to both physical and psychological damage and even depression and anxiety. “It’s important that organisations are aware of the potential mental ill-health implications and ensure they are aware of their roles and responsibilities in [supporting](https://www.financedigest.com/allowing-yourself-time-to-grow-as-a-leader-consciously-will-enable-you-to-support-your-team-authentically.html "Allowing yourself time to grow as a leader, consciously, will enable you to support your team authentically") their teams.” Leading commercial space provider, [Bruntwood Works](https://bruntwood.co.uk/about-bruntwood/works/), took away a number of crucial lessons from the first lockdown to support their staff during the second. ## Share some good news During the first lockdown, everyone was hyper-connected to the news cycle, which was almost always gloomy. [Prolonged exposure to negative statistics had a real impact](https://www.financedigest.com/wework-rival-iwg-quarterly-revenue-dips-on-prolonged-pandemic-impact.html "WeWork rival IWG quarterly revenue dips on prolonged pandemic impact") on people’s outlooks, so combat it by sharing _good_ news as regularly as possible. While it might not be easy to come by in the press, you can still [share stories of staff achievements and acts](https://www.financedigest.com/power-generation-sector-to-remain-largest-end-user-of-industrial-engines-persistence-market-research.html "Double Acting Hydraulic Cylinders to Hold Close to 50% Market Share: Persistence Market Research") of kindness. It really helps lift people and helps prevent their [mental health](https://www.financedigest.com/the-power-of-mindset-meditation-and-mental-health.html "The power of mindset, meditation and mental health") from deteriorating. Jo Gallagher, People Business Partner  at Bruntwood [Works says](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-minister-says-government-will-work-with-obr-on-economic-forecasts.html "UK minister says government will work with OBR on economic forecasts") the company has made practical efforts to share more good news. “Every day, right across the business we’re seeing, hearing and reading some really great colleagues’ stories on our staff conversation platform, Universe. We’ve welcomed a few new Bruntwood Works babies, we’ve [embraced new learning opportunities and we’ve seen how our customers](https://www.financedigest.com/banking-from-anywhere-embracing-technology-to-exceed-customer-expectations.html "Banking from anywhere: embracing technology to exceed customer expectations") are supporting the fight against COVID-19.” ## Bring the office perks home with you Lots of [progress has been made](https://www.financedigest.com/sweden-finland-and-turkey-have-made-progress-on-nato-membership-sweden-says.html "Sweden, Finland and Turkey have made progress on NATO membership, Sweden says") in understanding how our environments affect our productivity. It resulted in a ton of [office perks that modern workers](https://www.financedigest.com/google-mandates-workers-back-to-silicon-valley-other-offices-from-april-4.html "Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4") got used to — and they were all suddenly taken from us when lockdown came into play. However, companies that find ways to continue those perks outside of the [office will reap the benefits by boosting](https://www.financedigest.com/workspace-says-utilisation-rates-boosted-by-post-lockdown-return-to-office.html "Workspace says utilisation rates boosted by post-lockdown return to office") staff morale. Here are some of the most common office perks — and how you can replicate them remotely: - **Free food** — Used to getting free snacks or meals at the office? Send your staff vouchers to [order themselves a tasty lunch a couple of times a month](https://www.financedigest.com/italys-leonardo-raises-fy-orders-guidance-after-strong-nine-months.html "Italy’s Leonardo raises FY orders guidance after strong nine months"). - **Gym memberships** — If the gyms are closed, run a virtual fitness club instead. [Share your results](https://www.financedigest.com/rouble-steadies-near-60-vs-dollar-tcs-m-video-shares-down-after-results.html "Rouble steadies near 60 vs dollar; TCS, M.Video shares down after results") using a smartphone app and incentivise the winner with prizes like an afternoon off or an Amazon voucher. - **Office [games](https://www.financedigest.com/is-it-game-over-for-office-workplaces.html "IS IT GAME OVER FOR OFFICE WORKPLACES?")**— Missing the foosball table in the office? Luckily, there’s a ton of virtual games you can challenge teammates to instead. You can play Pictionary, Scrabble and even chess online. Start a leaderboard to see who’s doing best on your team! - **Great internet**— Most [modern offices have fast internet speeds to cope with staff being logged on eight hours a day](https://www.financedigest.com/who-is-the-modern-day-cfo.html "WHO IS THE MODERN DAY CFO?"), but it’s tricky to replicate that at home. Invest in some signal boosters for staff who are having trouble with their home [internet connection](https://www.financedigest.com/why-a-good-internet-connection-is-a-must-for-all.html "Why a good internet connection is a must for all."). ## Have regular, honest one-to-ones When everyone [worked together in offices](https://www.financedigest.com/are-businesses-using-cybersecurity-as-a-scapegoat-for-a-desperate-return-to-office-working.html "Are Businesses Using Cybersecurity As A Scapegoat For A Desperate Return To Office Working?"), agendas were quite practical. Many companies had [managers setting objective-based agendas to improve staff performance](https://www.financedigest.com/goodbye-excel-spreadsheets-hello-performance-management-tools.html "Goodbye excel spreadsheets, hello performance management tools"). Lockdown changed that. Effective one-to-ones under the new measures look fundamentally different; they should be open, honest conversations about how we feel, what we’re worried about, and — most importantly — what’s helping us through it. “Keep in regular contact with remote workers,” [says](https://www.financedigest.com/in-a-stadium-of-their-own-migrant-workers-say-their-sweat-made-world-cup-happen.html "In a stadium of their own, migrant workers say their sweat made World Cup happen") Kirsty. “This will help to avoid feelings of isolation and loneliness. It’s a good way to ensure that workers are well and that they understand any information and instructions presented to them.” For managers, this time is about listening more than anything else. Let your staff [set the agenda](https://www.financedigest.com/european-telcos-set-to-win-fight-with-big-tech-could-set-global-agenda.html "European telcos set to win fight with Big Tech, could set global agenda"). If you can establish a safe setting where employees feel heard, it can be a real lifeline for them when they need it the most. ## Don’t give up on social events Pre-lockdown social events were simple. The team goes out for a few drinks or a fun activity, and everyone gets to know each other a little better. Under the new measures, it’s easy for [companies to throw in the towel when it comes to hosting staff socials](https://www.financedigest.com/top-social-media-growth-companies-in-the-uk.html "Top Social Media Growth Companies in the UK") — but it’s not the right thing to do. Instead, leaders need to use the new options available to them. Schedule regular social events with your team. Anything that lets you keep in touch without the conversation centering around [work will help support your team’s mental health](https://www.financedigest.com/helping-employees-recover-from-remote-workings-mental-health-implications.html "Helping employees recover from remote working’s mental health implications"). Here are some virtual socialising [ideas your business](https://www.financedigest.com/networking-is-key-to-forming-business-ideas-as-a-college-student.html "Networking Is Key To Forming Business Ideas As A College Student") can try: - Virtual coffee sessions - Zoom evening drinks - Friday afternoon quizzes - A TV and film recommendations group - 30-day music challenges - Virtual book clubs ## Keep your (virtual) door open When you’re in the office together, employees might get some exposure to the senior team incidentally, whether that’s while making coffee or on the way out to lunch. That just doesn’t happen when you’re [working remotely](https://www.financedigest.com/remote-working-during-covid-a-successful-social-experiment.html "Remote working during COVID: a successful social experiment"). That’s why you need to set up new measures that bridge the gap between colleagues and directors. [“Communicate](https://www.financedigest.com/a-ccm-platform-is-crucial-to-your-customer-communication-plans-heres-why.html "A CCM platform is crucial to your customer communication plans: here’s why") the organisational plan,” advises Kirsty: “be open and honest with all employees.  Explain what the organisation is doing to help protect its employees, their families and friends, and the organisation itself.” One of the best [ways to do this is to have virtual](https://www.financedigest.com/five-ways-bad-bots-are-trying-to-crack-your-virtual-vaults-by-erez-hasson-strategist-application-security-at-imperva.html "Five Ways Bad Bots Are Trying To Crack Your Virtual Vaults") ‘open door’ times for senior staff. During these sessions— perhaps a couple of hours on a Friday afternoon — company directors should keep their calendars free and be prepared to chat to any staff members who want to talk. It could be about the business’s performance, staff concerns, or even new ideas for how the team can [move forward](https://www.financedigest.com/life-is-moving-forward-china-declares-new-covid-phase.html "‘Life is moving forward’: China declares new COVID phase"). [Opening these channels of communication](https://www.financedigest.com/why-poor-customer-communication-is-holding-open-banking-back.html "Why poor customer communication is holding open banking back") helps your team feel more closely connected with what the business is doing. It [gives them a chance to have their say](https://www.financedigest.com/bio-based-lubricants-to-give-a-push-to-the-global-pour-point-depressants-market-in-the-next-10-years-says-fmi.html "Bio-based Lubricants to Give a Push to the Global Pour Point Depressants Market in the Next 10 Years: Says FMI") during a time when very little seems to be in their control. ## One step at a time Kirsty from IOSH highlights that there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution to maintaining your team’s mental health because everyone is different. “People have personal triggers; some are better to carry on working while others simply need some downtime. There is also the social stigma that many feel [around talking about their struggles](https://www.financedigest.com/after-fleeing-war-ukrainians-struggle-to-settle-around-europe.html "After fleeing war, Ukrainians struggle to settle around Europe"). “Some decisions can only be made by the individual, such as whether to go off sick or to [continue](https://www.financedigest.com/hybrid-working-and-the-continued-security-challenges-for-financial-organisations.html "Hybrid working and the continued security challenges for financial organisations") working.” This being the case, [businesses need](https://www.financedigest.com/do-small-businesses-need-branding.html "Do small businesses need branding?") to be in tune with their staff on an individual level. The only way to do that? Take a genuine interest in each and every [member of your team](https://www.financedigest.com/playground-xyz-appoints-new-team-members-as-it-solidifies-its-position-as-a-leader-in-the-attention-space.html "Playground xyz appoints new team members as it solidifies its position as a leader in the attention space"). “If you really care about how your staff is coping, finding the right support measures for them will quickly follow,” [says Jo Gallagher from Bruntwood Works](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-pm-sunaks-office-says-the-hard-work-begins-now35794.html "UK PM Sunak’s office says ‘the hard work begins now’"). “Make sure you’re investing into those relationships, regardless of the new obstacles in the way. That [needs to be the number one priority of any company](https://www.financedigest.com/italys-windfall-tax-on-energy-companies-needs-to-be-rewritten-pm.html "Italy’s windfall tax on energy companies needs to be rewritten – PM") right now.” --- This blog is powered by Superblog. 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