05 May 2020

Five ways to support your employees’ mental health during self-isolation

Over the past few months, we have all had to adapt very quickly to new ways of working. The coronavirus outbreak has affected every organisation differently, and each employee finds themselves faced with a very unique set of circumstances. We want to continue to help people access great healthcare, as we have done for more than 150 years, so take a look at these tips and see how you can help your employees power through this challenging time.

1. Stay in touch using tech

Technology has been bringing many of us closer together since we’ve been social distancing. Make use of your company’s technology so you can stay connected with your employees. Mobile messaging groups like WhatsApp, virtual conferences hosted on Microsoft Teams or Zoom, the staff intranet and Skype video calls all make it easy for you to communicate regularly and reassure your teams.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England’s ‘My Whole Self’ campaign suggests a Q&A session for colleagues to dial in and chat through any concerns or queries they have about working from home. Or why not host a virtual coffee break as a more informal catch-up?

Everyone has a favourite way to communicate, so remember to provide your staff with lots of ways to get in touch. Some may find it easier to write their queries or concerns rather than have a phone call, and others are more visual and might be missing face-to-face chats in their workplace. Bear this in mind and aim to keep a virtual ‘open door’ policy during this challenging time.

Mental health charity Mind suggests asking your teams to complete Wellness Action Plans and states that you don't need to have a pre-existing mental health problem to feel the benefits. It just means you already have practical steps in place to ensure your teams are supported as much as possible.

Make sure you adapt any tips or suggestions to stay in line with current government guidance – for example, minimising contact with others, one form of exercise a day like running, walking, or cycling alone or with people you live with.

2. Remind your employees of the support they have

Any unplanned time away from work can cause financial worries for your employees as well as your business. Advice and guidelines on how best to stop the spread of coronavirus are changing daily, which can cause uncertainty.

Now may be a good time to review your sick pay and absence policies, and discuss them openly and honestly with your teams. GOV.UK can help you research what financial support is available for your organisation, and ACAS also has a dedicated COVID-19 help section for employers and employees.

Why not give your employees a gentle reminder to make use of any existing benefits that are on hand to offer support? For example, your Employee Assistance Programme, virtual healthcare cover such as GP and counselling helplines, and staff discounts and incentives. If you don’t have a benefits package in place, or are looking to update your current package, use this time to research what’s on offer.

3. Point your employees towards self-care

There are plenty of hints and tips to support your employees’ self-care during self-isolation. The Mental Health Foundation has a helpful guide for looking after your mental health using exercise. It suggests that even a short 10-minute burst increases our mental alertness, energy and positive mood. These ‘micro-workouts’ can easily be done at home, or adapted for key workers practising social distancing. Headspace, the meditation app, also has a whole host of coronavirus-related resources, from meditation for beginners, a mindfulness hand-washing exercise and sleep advice.

Supermarkets and shops are feeling the impact of the coronavirus outbreak and as a result, some people can’t get the usual variety of fresh foods. The Association of UK Dieticians has some simple advice for those who are self-isolating, or running low on their usual stocks of food. Mental health charity Mind also has guidance about food and mood, in particular related to staying hydrated and managing caffeine intake.

Tip: put these helpful resources to good use by sharing them regularly with your employees via email, messaging, intranet or by placing them in a wellbeing ‘hub’. Check-in on them in your catch-ups and ask them to take time to read through the suggestions. Why not lead by example and share what you’re doing for self-care?

4. Flexible working is the way forward

When many of your workforce are working in isolation, or workplaces are operating on skeleton staff, you’ll need some clever work-arounds to help your staff stay productive – and of course, healthy. The CIPD has helpful information on developing strategies to maximise homeworking and flexible resource plans.

Are your employees doing their best to keep their workspaces healthy? Are they abiding by the World Health Organization’s hygiene and social distancing advice in the workplace, or the NHS’s instructions to sit correctly at their home desks?

Remind your employees to take their normal allocated coffee breaks and lunch breaks, and follow some self-care suggestions. Remember, not everyone will be able to work their normal hours, and some people have dependants who need support at this time. You may find it helpful to work with your team to plan a rota or staggered working hours.

5. Show kindness

A little kindness can go a long way to showing your employees that their mental health is at the heart of your organisation. Think about small gestures that will have a big impact. Carry on with important business as usual tasks, such as staff rewards and recognitions. Award your teams with online gift vouchers, or make future plans for a team outing. Share any good news stories and encourage your teams to think positively.

Try to not let news regarding the outbreak consume every minute of every day, and plan some time to talk about something different. You could host a show and tell session; introduce your pets, children or family members to your teams; share interests or hobbies, or reveal what you’ve been doing to include self-care in your daily routine.

Could your local community benefit from your team’s skills and resources during this challenging time? Maybe employees can donate essential items to local hospitals, caregivers, or to those who are vulnerable and self-isolating? You could start an online fundraiser or offer some virtual assistance to local charities and support networks. We’re all in this together, and there are some fantastic, simple ways of helping each other to stay as healthy and well as possible.

Stay healthy and happy

We've got many more articles and resources to inspire you and your teams. Find support on topics like mindfulness, nutrition and exercise at our hub here. We want you and your employees to be as healthy and happy as possible during these unprecedented times.

This article is provided by Simplyhealth.