This summer, employees will be experiencing some dramatic changes as they return to their workplaces, but the most significant challenges will be the ones you don’t see.
Businesses across Canada are beginning to reopen and welcome employees back to the workplace after months of being laid off or working from home. And while it’s critical to have a well-designed physical space for them to work in, supporting your employees’ mental health has never been more important. It’s key for employers to realize that their staff will have a higher than average level of anxiety.
As far as the layout of your office or business, you’ll want to incorporate the obvious provisions that have become all too familiar to us now: hand sanitizer, masks, specific rules on physical distancing, hygiene and traffic flow. While it’s important to look after the physical aspects of your environment, also be aware that the mental health of your employees will be a key focus for you and your management team.
In a typical business, prior to the pandemic, it was normal to have one in five (or 20%) of your employees requiring some form of assistance with their mental health. As they return to work after dealing with COVID-19, expect those numbers to grow to four in five, or 80%.
This is new for everyone
Although health officials are doing their best to continually provide current information on the spread of the disease and tips on prevention, living through this pandemic is a new and often frightening experience. Over the last four months, your staff has gone through a multitude of lifestyle changes which may have included being asked to work from home, being laid off or working in a drastically changed workplace. Now your employees will be struggling with more changes as they return to the workplace and they are looking for you to address their concerns.
First, let them know you have their back. It starts by being transparent and sharing information in a clear and timely manner. The unknown creates fear. The more they know, the more comfortable they’ll be, which will help them move forward.
Second, include your staff in the conversation; have employee representatives in planning sessions and/or hold town hall meetings to share information and hear concerns. Those who are on the front lines may have valuable suggestions and they will appreciate being a part of the process.
If you have an Employee Assistance Program, be sure encourage staff to utilize it.
If you don’t have one, look into the Wellness Together Program from the government of Canada. (You can also contact us to help set one up.)
Every employee will re-enter the workplace with a different level of comfort. Remind employees it is important for everyone to respect physical distancing and the protocols that have been put in place to keep all employees safe and to ease the anxiety. Some people will be quite comfortable returning to the office and may assume things have returned to ‘normal’. These employees may need a gentle reminder that not everyone is operating with the same level of comfort. The pandemic is not over and must still be managed through proper protocols.
Having a well thought out Strategic Health and Performance Strategy will benefit both the company and its employees. Safeguarding your staff’s mental and physical health will support their level of comfort, performance and productivity.
Thanks to Victoria Grainger for this contribution to our summer newsletter.
Victoria Grainger from Wellness Works Canada is a friend of the Optimax Benefits family and provides the monthly tip you find at the end of each newsletter.
Canada’s first and only workplace health and performance association, the organization supportsworkplace wellness practitioners and workplaces with simple, evidenced-informed, cost-effective education, resources and certifications. They specialize in serving small to medium sized businesses on a not-for-profit basis, while advocating for the profound impact that well-being has on performance.
Wellness Works and their partners help create environments in which employees can thrive while reducing the costs related to poor health, and bolstering organizational reputation and performance. Wellness Works also helps employers assess, transform and evaluate your journey towards a healthy, high-performing work culture.
Partner memberships are available for students, practitioners, providers and employers on a cost-effective basis; you can find out more at https://wellnessworkscanada.ca/
If you require assistance with the reopening of your workplace, contact Victoria today.
Photo courtesy United Nations Covid-19 Response on Unsplash
