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Young woman using laptop computer while working remotely from home — [Photo: Standsome-Worklifestyle | Unsplash.com]

Remote work has seen a massive shift worldwide over the past year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As a result, I think we can safely say that working from home is a phenomenon that’s here to stay for the foreseeable future.

While there are certainly benefits of virtual working, there are challenges too. Like the rise of mental health issues due to increased stress and burnout, feelings of isolation, and being less engaged.

Covid, Well-being and Remote Work

Pre-pandemic, employers had come a long way in recognizing the importance of employee wellness as a vital way to keep their workforce satisfied, engaged and productive.

But there’s still a lot of work to be done. An Aetna International study, for example, found that just 25% of employees recently rated the support they received from their employer for stress as ‘good.’

According to a Robert Half survey, 45% of Canadian companies have started offering mental health resources. Thirty-nine percent now run general wellness programs because of Covid-19.

The Face of Remote Work

Some other intriguing remote work trends have started to emerge over the past year, including:

The percentage of employees permanently working from home is expected to double worldwide in 2021 (Enterprise Technology Research, October 2020).

A hybrid model of working at home and working onsite is gaining favour among many employees, including 51% of Canadian employees (Robert Half Canada, April 2021).

It appears that some employees and employers agree they have been more productive working remotely. In the U.S. both groups reported modest increases of 8% and 6% respectively (PwC Remote Work Survey, January 2021). Another 26% cited decreased productivity working from home.

Long working hours was a chief complaint by 80% of 25-34-year-olds (Aetna International, September 2020). More than half of professionals work weekends and one-third of remote employees regularly work more than eight hours a day (Robert Half Canada, November 2020).

When it comes to employees’ opinion of how well an employer cares for their well-being, about half strongly agreed that their employers cared at the beginning of the pandemic. That number dropped 10% a year later (U.S. Gallup Social Research, February 2021).

How Employers Can Improve Employee Well-being

Over the course of the pandemic, it’s become clear that personal communication is more important than ever.

Here’s a brief checklist of actions that employers can add to their remote work strategy to improve employee well-being:

1. Build meaningful relationships with employees

It’s true that managers have become the backbone of their virtual organizations. They’re the people companies depend on for building relationships with their remote employees.

In his bestselling book, workplace expert and author Dan Schawbel points out that just being human – empathetic, sharing – goes a long way to creating a more socially connected workplace.

A recent study cites three top skills managers need to do this: emotional intelligence (100%), inclusiveness (92%), social flexibility (62%).]

That could be done, for example, through more frequent in-person one-to-one or small group meetings for informal chats and feedback.

Call employees weekly to find out how they’re coping, or use video calls where possible. Email to show appreciation for jobs well done. In short, reach out.

2. Encourage regular team contact

Likewise, organize a daily call with your team. It not only gives employees the feeling they’re part of a team, but can also keep them up-to-date on project and company issues.

Encourage virtual lunches or water cooler breaks where staff have the opportunity to just be themselves and relax. And cut them some slack instead of digitally monitoring their every movement while working from home. Put the emphasis on results instead.

3. Take steps to prevent employee burnout

A 2020 Gallup survey found that nearly two-thirds of all full-time employees deal with burnout at some point in their working life.

It’s become so prevalent that the World Health Organization now recognizes it as an ‘occupational phenomenon.’ It also now threatens remote workers.

What are the top reasons for chronic workplace stress leading to burnout? Gallup Workplace lists them as unmanageable workload, unclear communication from managers, lack of manager support, unreasonable time pressure, and unfair treatment at work. Which ones are creating the most problems at your workplace?

4. Take a holistic approach to employee wellness

Whether your employees work exclusively on-site, remotely, or some combination of the two, your corporate wellness plan (you do have one, right?) should offer incentives that make life easier – and healthier – for them.

Why not subsidize commuting costs? Many employees are dealing with child care and could use more employer support. At very least, employers can provide flexible on-site hours so employees can accommodate their kids’ needs.

Then there’s the growing need for elder care. In 2018 one in four Canadians (and that number continues to grow) provided care to a family member with a long-term health condition or problems related to aging. Why not offer paid time off for employees to deal with these stressful and demanding needs?

Self-Care Tips for Employees Working Remotely

There are certain healthy practices that I keep coming back to because they really work. And they can be done at any time, at your own pace, unlike scheduled wellness courses or activities.

I’m listing four best wellness ideas for remote employees to help better manage remote working stress and related challenges:

1. Take every moment as it comes

Being mindful is about being deliberately present and actively accepting instead of reacting to life’s daily dramas. It helps you develop your intuitive ability and make better choices. It also relieves stress and encourages greater calm. You may find that practicing mindfulness meditation is a great way to reinforce living life in the moment.

2. Watch your negative thinking

It’s easy to fall into the trap of negative thinking when your life is disrupted and unpredictable. Turn that around by first recognizing negative self-talk when it happens. Replace it with positive affirmations and look for solutions – don’t wallow in the problems. Vaccinate yourself naturally with humour. Embrace change. Practice gratitude.

3. Set boundaries to prevent burnout

Working from home can be a double-edged sword when it comes to work-life balance. You can avoid the daily commute, work attire, and eating out, but you may have to deal with child care, distractions, or overworking.

That’s where setting boundaries – like limiting time spent with work email or taking office calls on weekends – is even more important now. Know when (and how) to say no.

4. Be good to yourself

Simple enough but not enough of us do it. We get so caught up in doing all the time that there’s precious little or no time to spend on ourselves. That’s the quickest route to stress and illness.

So take mental time outs each day, regularly (once an hour) get up from your desk and move your body, and get plenty of sleep to recharge. Do not skip vacation time under any circumstances!

Summary

Remote work has become a game changer in the business world. But employee well-being and remote working don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

There are pivotal ways that employers can support their employees and employees can make working from home less stressful. It’s all about openly working together to find the right solutions.

Get Stress Relief

Do your employees need help dealing with stress? Take a look at my stress management workshops, then let’s talk about how we can work together!

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Category: Attitude

Remote Work Guide to Well-being in the Age of the New Normal