As more and more organizations move to a fully remote working environment, or adapt to a hybrid schedule, the workforce faces a new set of stressful challenges that may be contributing to an unhealthy work-life balance.
To counteract that, leaders and managers can play a crucial role in helping employees manage their stress levels through consistent communication and specific workplace initiatives.
It's also vitally important that leaders and managers have a pulse of their team and colleagues in order to proactively help support their mental health in times where employees are feeling tired, overwhelmed, and stressed throughout their work day.
In this article we highlight 5 effective ways for managing your hybrid and remote employees to help support their mental health and reduce work-related stress.
By implementing some or all of the initiatives we outline, your organization will be taking an active step towards creating and maintaining a healthy and happy workplace culture.
5 Ways You Can Support the Mental Health of Your Remote Employees
1. Offer Support and Key Resources
Communication and support are key when it comes to maintaining both physical and mental health. By fostering a positive and open communication culture, both employers and employees will feel comfortable sharing their opinions and feelings without fear of judgment or feelings of isolation.
Managers can get to know their team members through scheduled one-on-one regular check-ins that should not always be work-related. Building a relationship based on trust helps personalize your approach, enabling managers to better support the health needs of their remote workforce while they work.
When it comes to available mental health resources (e.g., employee assistance programs, easy access to mental health support, and telemedicine consultations), it's important for HR and human resource departments to educate the organization throughout the year.
Using multiple thoughtful touchpoints ensures that new programs are communicated effectively and reinforces their availability for individual needs. This approach helps new hires and remote workers maintain their wellbeing and should be a key part of employee onboarding.
Read Also: How to Attract Remote Talent
2. Allow for Camera-Optional Video Meetings
Having multiple virtual meetings a day can cause mental fatigue and even exhaustion for some employees. Mental and emotional energy is spent being on camera, often leading to increased depression and anxiety.
Consider allowing employees to turn off their cameras occasionally or adopt a camera-optional philosophy across your organization. Outlining whether a meeting is camera-optional in the invite or meeting details can go a long way toward establishing healthy meeting expectations and encouraging self-care during the workday.
This flexibility not only supports employees who are uncomfortable speaking on camera but can also improve productivity and help remote workers maintain a better balance between their personal and professional lives.
While on-camera meetings can enhance face-to-face interactions and team camaraderie, overuse can have the opposite effect.
3. Watch for Signs of Burnout
If you notice an employee behaving differently, showing a lack of interest, or simply seeming disconnected, it could be a sign of burnout. The remote workforce often struggles with blurred lines between work and personal life, leading to longer hours and less time for hobbies and breaks.
For instance, someone who is typically talkative and bubbly becoming quiet and disengaged, or a normally deadline-oriented person starting to miss deadlines, could indicate burnout. The absence of a physical commute can sometimes lead to overworking, creating an unhealthy habit of staying online too long.
When you see these signs in a colleague or team member, reach out and offer a helping hand. Perhaps help them reallocate tasks or encourage them to take breaks, adopt new self-care habits, or even engage in a new hobby to recharge. Encourage a consultation with their manager or HR to discuss workload concerns.
The most effective way to address burnout is through open communication, maintaining focus, and fostering meaningful connections. Support your team members with tools and new practices that foster wellness and help prevent fatigue. Utilizing digital tools to streamline workflows can alleviate workload stress and enable employees to establish healthier work routines. Supporting both their wellbeing and productivity will ultimately enhance the overall health of your organization.
4. Encourage Taking Time Off When Needed
Many employees feel uncomfortable taking time off when working remotely. Taking a day off to stay at home when working from home could create a sense of guilt. If you are at home, not working, but your office is in the next room, it may be hard to fully disconnect.
This mindset can lead to increased burnout and a lack of relaxation or rejuvenation from days off. Organizations are starting to increase their focus and support for mental health by introducing mental health days or expanding sick leave policies. As a leader or manager, you can convey to employees that calling in sick or taking a mental health day as needed is OK and, in fact, important.
It's also a good practice to let your team and employees know that it's expected of them to fully disconnect while on time off, whether they are at home or not. A time off culture that promotes being offline while on PTO, sick days, or personal days will have a positive impact on the mental health of all employees.
Read Also: Strategic HR Outsourcing
5. Set Work-from-Home Boundaries
Working remotely often blurs the boundaries between work and personal time. Remote employees can feel pressured to respond to emails at all hours, even after their traditional work period ends.
Implementing a culture of taking short breaks throughout the day to go for a walk or read a chapter of a book will help create healthy boundaries for your employees and their work. If you notice an employee is constantly online and continuously answering work emails after work hours, encourage them to review their workday schedule and their priorities.
It's essential to have a productive workday schedule and cadence, while also making space and time for other important aspects of life, particularly those related to mental health.
Support Your Team Members Working Remotely
Mental health plays a vital role in the performance and overall happiness of your employees, while positively impacting your company culture. By implementing the above initiatives to support your employees and their mental health, your organization can ensure they are continuing to drive a healthy and happy workplace culture.
If you’re looking to create a healthier, happier remote and hybrid workplace, the right support systems matter. At Melita Group, we specialize in helping businesses like yours foster positive work environments through our comprehensive human resources outsourcing services.
Whether you need expert guidance on payroll outsourcing, streamlined employee benefits solutions, or flexible PEO outsourcing solutions, our team makes it simple and stress-free for you. Connect with Melita Group today to learn how we can support your growing workforce.
