Tips to manage employees’ mental health, post lockdown

Your people may be feeling stressed or anxious, and could be struggling to cope. As an employer, you have a duty of care to protect the mental and physical well-being of your employees, but what can you actually do to help?

There are many ways you can support good mental health and well-being for all employees, so here’s a few ideas:

Keep connected

Set up a regular call schedule for staff that are working for home, or on furlough – keeping in touch on a regular basis will help to feel supported, and that you have their back. Using video where possible mean you can actually see how employees are doing during lockdown.

But remember to switch off too

Remind employees who are working to take regular screen breaks and discourage out-of-hours logins. Too much time online can be disadvantageous for mental well-being and productivity.

Be open and honest

Media coverage can cause anxiety and raise endless questions, so it’s important to be open and honest with everyone about how your business is coping, and any plans that could impact them.

Manage the message

Make sure your senior team are on the same page and sending the same message to everyone in the business. Even temporary changes to a person’s working pattern can be unsettling, so be mindful and sensitive when communicating important updates to staff.

Spot the signs of stress

Knowing the signs of stress or burnout can help you to provide support before a situation gets worse. Low energy, headaches, insomnia, and irritability are just some of the signs to look out for. An employee showing signs of stress could benefit from a break or a confidential chat. Just knowing you have their back will help to reassure them.

Highlight support

Reminding staff that support is there if and when they need it can be a great safety net for well-being. Have some resources lined up to offer people when they request help. I can help with confidential coaching on a 1:1 basis.

Regain a routine

The lockdown has disrupted the routines of everyone. But routine can be beneficial for mental well-being. Employees who are working remotely need a routine that can work for them, and those on furlough might benefit from a wellness timetable to maintain healthy habits. Even if they can’t actually work during furlough, you can still check-in on their well-being.

Encourage healthy habits

Encouraging everyone to take care of themselves is crucial during a crisis. Promote good hygiene and social distancing whilst reminding employees that daily exercise is vital to their mental wellbeing.

And don’t forget to breathe..

Daily breathing exercises can help combat stress and anxiety. They can also ground and calm a person experiencing a panic attack. Share these helpful breathing exercises from the NHS with your team and don’t forget to try them yourself!