Supporting employee wellbeing during Coronavirus isolation measures

Since self-isolation and lock down measures have been put in place, day to day life has changed drastically. It’s likely that, to varying extents, this might have an impact on employee’s overall wellbeing. So, it’s important to make sure support and guidance is available should it be needed.

Fact3 discuss employee wellbeing and resilience with workplace wellbeing expert Health Perks. This chat was recorded in advance of UK Mental Health Awareness week and provides tips and advice for both employers and employees on how to manage mental health; maintaining productivity and what to do in a crisis.

Employees who are working from home

This guidance is referenced from mind.org

Maintain a positive work life balance – encourage regular breaks and structure to working hours (where possible). Maintain boundaries and consider not emailing employees during weekends/evenings as they may feel more obliged to respond during this time. As managers, also take into account the impact of parental responsibilities and allow greater flexibility for those affected.

Keep regular check ins – use online tools such as Skype, Zoom or Microsoft teams to maintain regular contact and to support a feeling of connectedness

Establish new ways of working – consider what platforms could be used to support new ways of working that encourage collaboration and communication. Setting up project teams, using new technologies, trail and errors.

Create Wellness Action Plans – To enable you to understand the needs of your individual employees, everyone is going to react differently to this situation.

Encourage employees to access support – Make employees aware of any existing support that was already available to the such as any employee assistance programmes or provision of counselling services. Connect them with any internal Mental Health Champions or Mental Health First Aiders. It is also useful to ask them what support they feel they need and directing them to external support such as Mind online counselling services. Regular physical exercise and still getting some fresh air should also be encouraged.

Public Health England have also release guidance on supporting your wellbeing, we have added practical steps to implementing these day to day:

Stay connected with trusted friends and family

How: When we can’t see each other face to face, technology can really support us to stay connected with others. Utilise things like Facetime & Zoom to video call with friends instead of seeing them in person.

Help and support others

How: In line with the COVID-19 guidance there are plenty of ways to support others such as sharing trusted sources of information from the NHS, Public Health England or the Department of Health and Social Care, finding volunteering opportunities either locally or by through phone check in services.

Talk about your worries

This is a difficult time for everyone and its ok to feel anxious or worried, the important thing is to discuss these worries with others.

How: Talking to friends or family is always a good place to start, but if that’s not an option there are a lot of recommended helplines that can provide professional support such as anxietyuk.org.uk, mind.org.uk, Samaritans.org.uk A full list of recommended services can be found here.

Look after your physical wellbeing

This can have a big impact on how you feel emotionally so it’s important to keep a regular exercise routine that suits you, whilst still observing social distancing guidance.

How: There are lots of online resources available such as Joe Wicks daily PE lessons and the NHS fitness studio. You can also go for a run, walk or bike ride whilst observing the recommended 2 meter distancing.

Look after your sleep

This can be easy to neglect with a loss of routine and feelings of stress or anxiety but it is important to try and keep a sleeping routine to support mental and physical wellbeing.

How: Even if you’re not working, or if you’re working from home, set an alarm and sleep time so that you have a set routine, implement restrictions on screen time and try to help yourself wind down in whatever way suits you. If you struggle, you can set up ‘downtime’ on most phones that imposes restriction on use of certain apps, there are various sleep apps such as Calm and Headspace that can help you getting to sleep and further support can be found here.

Try to manage difficult feelings

This is a difficult and unprecedented time for everyone, so it’s likely that you might develop feelings of anxiety or stress. It’s important to acknowledge and manage those feelings.

How – Focus on what you can control instead of what you can’t. Look at practices such as gratitude and mindfulness to support you. If you feel you need additional support make sure you access it, there are a lot of online resources and many local therapists and counsellors are now offering phone/video calling services.

Manage your media/ information intake

There is information being put out 24/7, this can make the situation even more overwhelming, make sure you’re not spending too much time on this.

How – If you want or need a regular update, limit this to watching the news only once a day or even every other day, it isn’t going to change the situation but it could make you more anxious about it. Also try to focus on good new stories. The Happy News Paper does a good job of focusing on the positives.

Get the FACTS

There is a lot of false information being shared especially on social media, so try not to look at unreliable sources in the first place, it will only increase anxieties.  

How - Find a credible source you can trust such as the Government website, or the NHS website, and fact check information that you get from newsfeeds, social media or from other people.

Think about your new daily routine

Our day to day life has changes and it’s easy to slip out of a normal routine when its more important than ever that we have one

How – Set alarms to get yourself up, do regular activities at certain times of the day, think about how you can adapt old routines and find new ways of working – keep in touch with friends on a regular day and time, join live exercise activities that have a set time and learn new hobbies or skills that will keep you engaged.

Fact3 Academy Online is running live and interactive employee wellness training at a fraction of the cost of our face to face training. For more information or to book visit The Academy Online course page.