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When some workplaces reopened in 2021, following the UK Government's previous advice to work from home, the Mental Health Foundation warned of the phenomenon known as ‘returnism', the impact on mental health of going back to the working practices that people had been used to before the pandemic hit.

More recently, as the Omicron variant took hold, businesses were once again advised to work from home where possible. All of this uncertainty could well have rekindled mental anguish amongst employees, many of whom had probably been hoping to return to a sense of normality.

Since the announcement of the first lockdown in March 2020, it has been an unsettling time for employees, with many working remotely and suffering feelings of isolation and poor mental health as a result. Others were fearful of returning to the workplace, concerned about COVID safety measures on public transport and in the office, as well as going back to working face to face with colleagues.

The fact that everything looked to be settling down later in 2021, but was then reawakened by Omicron, leaving many unsure of how and where they would be working, did not do anything to improve the situation.

With the pandemic having led to significant changes to people's work circumstances and work-life balance, it is no wonder that mental health organisations have been issuing warnings to employers of the importance of supporting their staff through this difficult time.

Suggestions include being understanding of individual circumstances; ensuring everyone is making use of their annual leave allowance; involving staff in planning new ways of working, and considering offering flexible or hybrid working, as well as making sure that managers have the skills to identify and deal with mental health issues amongst their staff.

The HSE Working Minds Campaign

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently launched a campaign to promote good mental health at work.

Known as Working Minds, the campaign has been set up to specifically support small businesses. It aims to provide employers and their staff with straightforward advice and simple steps to introduce the principles of stress management standards into the workplace.

The HSE says that, even prior to the pandemic, mental health issues cost employers in the UK up to £45 billion every year. In 2020, over 17.9 million working days were lost due to stress, anxiety or depression. What's more, a survey by mental health charity Mind suggests that two in five employees faced increased mental health issues during the pandemic.

By law, all employers are required to take steps to prevent work related stress, and to support, promote and sustain good workplace mental health.

The Working Minds campaign offers a range of tools and support to help businesses and their staff understand how best to avoid work related stress, and promote good mental health.

How to support good mental health and promote well-being at work

As an employer, there are a range of ways in which you can help support well-being in the workplace, whether you have all your staff back in the office, are operating a hybrid working model, or you have stuck with working from home for the foreseeable future, or permanently.

Keep communications clear

With so much change taking place in all aspects of life, and government advice changing on almost a daily basis, it is not uncommon for staff to be feeling uneasy, which can intensify feelings of anxiety. If you, as an employer, are planning changes of your own, therefore, it is important to communicate them clearly and well ahead of time, so that everyone can prepare themselves and feel included in the process.

Do your best to offer support and to make sure your staff feel as comfortable as possible with any changes you are making to working regimes. Ask for input, and make sure that any feedback is considered and any concerns raised are tackled.

Open channels of communication are essential if you are going to ensure your people feel valued, and that their needs and worries are important to you and the organisation.

Learn how to identify mental health issues

It is not always easy for people to be upfront about mental health issues, particularly with their employer. Fear of jeopardising their position may hold some employees back from talking about their struggles, and they may choose to put on a brave face when in fact they are facing inner personal challenges.

Employers therefore will benefit from being able to recognise the differences between everyday stress, and damaging levels of anxiety and depression. Some of the typical signs of workplace stress can include: 

• Working longer hours - if out of character, working longer hours or working through breaks could be a sign of an employee who is struggling to manage their workload
• Time off - reluctance to take time off could be a sign that someone is concerned they will fall behind, whilst those who suddenly take more time off could be struggling to face the workplace altogether
• Irritability - increased irritability or nervousness, constant fidgeting or over the top reactions or sensitivity are all typical signs of workplace stress
• Tiredness - it is common for those who are suffering from stress to find it difficult to sleep at night, so if a member of staff is constantly tired or lacking energy, or looking or feeling unwell a lot of the time, this could be a tell-tale sign
• Shyness - stressed employees may shy away to avoid drawing attention to themselves, or may isolate themselves or avoid meetings or activities, although it is important to be aware that some people are naturally shy, so you should only be concerned if the behaviour is out of character
• Lack of concentration - lapses in concentration and difficulty remembering things could be a sign of a distracted mind, as could indecisiveness and confusion

 

Offer support

It is good practice to do what you can to support good mental health at work.

Being open to listening, and providing access to support, even if it is through a third party or simply by offering a resource pack to help point staff in the direction of organisations that can help, are good places to start.

You could also offer training for staff to become mental health first aiders so that they can act as a first point of contact for those who need someone to talk to.

Many organisations are introducing an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). This includes counselling and advice for anyone who may be facing concerns either at work, or personally.

For staff working from home, you'll need to think carefully about how you will include them. Our working from home guide for employers provides advice in this respect.

Create a hospitable environment

A supportive and welcoming workplace can help anyone who may be suffering mental health challenges feel like they have a safe place to come to every day.

Wherever possible, try to create a hospitable environment for your staff. Some ideas could include: 

• Providing healthy hampers filled with fruit or other healthy options
• Adding plants to the workplace to help purify the air and give staff something to take care of
• Making the most of natural light, or investing in a smart lighting system that mimics natural light
• Encouraging regular breaks and outdoor exercise
• Creating comfortable breakout spaces where staff can take time out when they need it

 

Helping you support your workforce

For advice on workplace health and safety, including support for managing workplace stress, you are welcome to get in touch with PMR Solutions. Our advice is fully tailored to individual needs and backed by extensive industry knowledge and long term experience.