Research from Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) has found that 53% of American adults are experiencing poor mental health due to the stress of the pandemic.
This number, which is up from 32% from March 2020, indicates that business leaders need to do better in terms of supporting their employees during this time.
This means starting with opening discussions about mental health. Allowing employees to express feelings of poor mental health is crucial to a healthy, honest workplace.
“[Mental health] is one of the biggest challenges employees face right now, and as leaders, we must create safe spaces where employees can speak comfortably about where they need help to overcome challenges they are dealing with,” said Alicia Tillman, Global CMO of SAO
Many workers have expressed fears of job loss, so it’s essential for business leaders to hear their staff out in order to support them in the workplace.
Additionally, leaders need to understand how new ways of working may be having an impact on productivity and wellness.
For instance, a report found that three in four workers are experiencing digital overload, so encouraging workers to use analog office supplies like notebooks and sticky notes can help workers take a screen break.
One of the most important habits to have when working from home is the ability to unplug. Separating work life and home life can be challenging in this arrangement, especially if workers have limited space.
Encouraging workers to set boundaries for their work day can help eliminate the “always on” feeling that many remote workers experience.
