Mental Health, The Workplace and COVID-19

Whatever your feelings about returning to work, whether it be joy, anxiety, anger, uncertainty, or a combination thereof, it can safely be said that it will bring big changes.

It was not that long ago that Britons were forced to come to terms with all the different routines and challenges presented by working at home, before now facing the prospect of returning to the workplace, albeit itself now dramatically unfamiliar. With commuting, social distancing, new workplace regulations, evolving government guidelines and the wearing of PPE, this is not a return to ‘normal’ working life by any means.

For some, the return to the workplace may not even be a choice. The government has advised that if you are able to work from home then you should, but this is not an option for many people. Hectic home life, office necessities, the health of the business, or for the sake of the economy may all be pressuring you back into the workplace. Coupled with the end of the furlough scheme in October creating fears of mass redundancies, there are widespread concerns that continuing to work at home will jeopardise job security.

Neither is returning to work an easy move for many. The virus has not gone and there are those with other responsibilities out of the workplace, like what to do about home schooling or shielding a vulnerable family member.

There are no easy solutions here. But there are ways to alleviate our minds and reduce stress in what are very stressful times. Here are some things to be mindful of as you go back to the workplace, to incorporate whilst working from home and in your day-to-day life.

Returning to the Office

If you have been on furlough these past months, then expect a transition period as you ease back into work. Along with having more free time to ourselves, you may have gotten used to seeing family and pets more regularly , and so being back in the office without these things might come as a shock. While it also offers the chance to reconnect with colleagues, the move back into a more ordered work lifestyle can make some people feel depressed. Additionally, moving from any prolonged period of relative stress and uncertainty into a more familiar situation can also have the effect of making you feel low.

To combat these feelings, make use of your colleagues and a renewed work-social life. Share your experiences over regular coffee breaks. Everyone has found the past few months difficult in their own way; voicing your own concerns can be good to depressurise, as well as potentially put them in perspective.

You may find it difficult to re-adjust to office life more generally. Planning your return to work with a gradual up-take of your old routines can be helpful here. Set yourself daily targets but don’t expect a return to your normal productivity; this may take time and is totally normal. Likewise, you may not think it necessary after having so much time away, but making use of your annual leave is also important. Lockdown has not been a holiday and it is possible to burnout if you work too hard straight out of it.

If you have been going to work all this time, look out for new changes. This is not just limited to things like increased traffic on the roads, but new demands being made on top of those asked of you during lockdown.

Assistance

Explore the available assistance at your place of work. Remember that your employer has a duty of care and needs to take your mental health into account.

As a manager, take time to look out for your employees. Honesty and communication are of immense value at the moment and making sure your employees know what help is available is of great importance. Understand that everyone has individual circumstances, and that some may be able to hide their worries more than others. Be respectful of existing mental health conditions and do not be alarmed by unexpected people voicing their worries. Additionally, if you are taking on new young employees, appreciate that they are starting in strange circumstances and make them aware that you understand this.

Be an authoritative leader in times of stress, and a collaborative one in times of ease. Have a crisis plan and encourage your employees to make plans themselves. It can only improve team confidence.

There are methods you can take up in the meantime to help mindfulness. Check out Mental Health Foundation or Public Health England for strategies for coping with your mental well-being during the pandemic.

Working from Home

If you are still working at home, utilise your workplace’s IT department as much as possible for equipment and software. Once you are digitally set up, get into a good work routine. This means assigning realistic work hours, not working in your pyjamas, and having a distraction-free work station.

Use online training courses to familiarise yourself with new video call and remote office programs, and get into the regular habit of catching up with people digitally. Do this over video as much as possible, as non-verbal communication is important to meaningful connections and combating feelings of isolation. Use your diary to show your availability to your colleagues while giving yourself regular breaks. Be sure to make use of your time at home by slotting in time for exercise where possible.

Most importantly, make sure to keep a work-life balance. Not eating at your desk, packing away your things and getting away from your workstation at the end of the day will help this.

General Tips

Maintain a strict hygiene regime whatever you are doing, but particularly if you are returning to your normal commute. If possible, reduce your reliance on public transport and explore alternative means of getting to work.

Lastly, be optimistic. Try not to talk about the virus or share misleading information as this can affect others’ mental wellbeing.