Improving Mental Health When Working Remotely

According to the World Health Organization, one in four people suffer from mental illness at some point or another. This has struck a chord for companies looking to enhance the employee experience and nurture their community.

Right now, the ongoing pandemic has brought upon unprecedented levels of mental health issues to our society. So what can companies do to ensure that employees are taken care of now and in the future?

Tête-à-tête, which means “private conversation” in French, is a way to bring a small group of staffers to discuss their own mental health. Doing so can help workers air out any added stress that they may be experiencing, whether it be personal or professional, and help normalize discussing mental health in the workplace.

Additionally, offering access to counseling or therapy can help employees take better care of their mental health. While several business leaders are apprehensive to cover these costs, poor mental health costs businesses $9 billion annually. 

Knowing this, investing into improving workers’ mental health means that both the employee and business see benefits.

One of the most significant challenges that distributed workforces experience is the lack of socialization. Without face-to-face interactions, employees see increased levels of isolation and loneliness.

To bring employees together, companies should attempt to recreate “water cooler” moments by hosting virtual meetups. Of course, there is no true replication of casual, in-person lunches, but creating a semblance of normalcy can help workers feel less alone.