Now that you have built a remote team with a healthy company culture, it’s important to keep employees informed on building healthy structures at home to maintain their mental health. The psychological effects of working from home can take a toll on remote employees. To mitigate the stress-related effects of remote work, consider implementing practices that further a healthy work-life balance and organizing helpful tips for employees to follow.
The Psychological Effects of Working from Home
Although there are several benefits to working from home, some employees may have difficulty adjusting to the lack of social opportunities during remote work or the overlap between the time at work and home. Both employers and employees must be informed on the signs of declining mental health and the appropriate channels and actions to take. It’s important to remember that the stresses of remote work can be enhanced by an employee’s stresses in their home life. This is why establishing a healthy company culture with a robust management team and enhanced technology is important. These structures are what reduces the likelihood of an employee overworking or becoming socially isolated.
Practices Employers Can Take Promote a Healthy Work-Life Balance
A variety of reports show that 92% of employees are beginning to feel burnout when working from home. Employees may need some extra support besides the structures already discussed in our Work-from-Home series. Encouraging your team to take their PTO is key in reducing the likelihood of burnout. It is important to be proactive about this since 50% of employees say they did not take their allotted PTO in 2020 because they feared falling behind. To alleviate that anxiety and to establish a healthy approach towards PTO, management can set the example. If your employees see that you are serious about the benefit of getting away from the office, your employees will follow your lead. To circumvent the anxiety of falling behind, setting collaborative practices in place for when a team member is on vacation can boost an employee’s confidence to take the necessary time off.
Compassion and empathy are also crucial factors in promoting a healthy work-life balance. Understanding your team’s situation and managing towards a solid balance of work time and personal time will make your employees more productive and centered. Consider investing in training on a management program that supports the culture you want to grow within your organization. Moreover, you should ensure your benefits give your employees the mental health support they need. Roughly 86% of employees treated for depression report improved work performance. Some benefits employers should be considering are Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), Telemental Health Coverage, Online Mental Health Support, Caregiving Support, and Flexible Scheduling. If you help your employees overcome difficult situations and improve their home life, you will simultaneously help improve how they show up to work.
Strategies Employees Can Take to Improve their Mental Health
Employers should also consider sharing information regarding how employees can improve their mental health while working remotely. This is especially true for employees that are new to remote work. More importantly, employers should encourage their team to maintain a healthy structure at home. Creating a routine can help people feel calm and productive. Employees should consider starting their day as if they were going to the office. By scheduling time for self-care and establishing a routine, employees can further create a boundary between work and home. Additionally, employees should include breaks and self-care practices between different tasks throughout the workday as well. You can also recommend incorporating the following:
- Resist working beyond your normal work hours to maintain work and home boundaries.
- Call or video call friends/family to check in and say hello.
- Join a club or volunteer at a non-profit.
- Exercise either on their own to destress or in a group setting to socialize.
- Call a friend and then go for a walk together.
- Sit on your front porch, stairs, or yard and chat with neighbors as they walk by.
- Check on neighbors who live alone or are elderly.
These tips can help employees create routines to deal with the stresses that may arise from remote work. But, it’s always important to encourage and support your team to speak to their doctor or find a mental health professional if they are deeply struggling. For more information on best remote practices, download our “Best Practices for Managing a Remote Workforce” white paper! Contact us if you have any questions.