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A year after the pandemic broke out, many employees are still working from home. However, a survey led by Aetna International showed that 74% of all remote workers said that poor mental health has impacted their productivity. Additionally, 32% and 43% of respondents said that stress and weight gain are among their top health concerns, respectively. Given this, it's clear that developing a healthy work-life balance is crucial for one’s holistic wellness. And companies should prioritize supporting their employees with this. Here are some ways they can do this:
Avoid “Always-On” Culture
As with regular workplace setups before the pandemic, there should be clear boundaries between work and leisure. Employers should avoid implementing the “always-on” culture, as it can greatly affect employee mental health. In fact, Business News Daily talks about after-hours emails and the damage they can contribute to chronic stress and fatigue. Expecting employees to answer work-related concerns regardless of the time of day can hinder them from tending to their personal needs and unwinding after a workday. Thus, remember to consider your employees' working hours and respect their digital boundaries.
Implement Shorter Work Weeks
A full eight hours a day may not exactly equate to eight hours of productive work. Most people have been found to be at their highest productivity levels for only four to six hours a day at most. Given this, shortening the workweek might actually have a positive effect on your employees. A SymptomFind post about a 40-hour workweek suggests that it can improve mental health and productivity as it frees up more time for employees to pursue other hobbies. Giving them more time to spend with their families can also lessen their fatigue and anxieties, making for well-rested employees.
Promote Health Initiatives
Physical health goes hand-in-hand with an employee’s overall capacity to work. Pre-Covid, some companies often held sports events or sponsored company sports teams to encourage physical activity, but it can be quite difficult with the current restrictions. Instead, you can encourage employees to maintain their fitness by offering discount gym memberships or online fitness class subscriptions. By providing your employees with opportunities to further their physical health, you're also encouraging them to unplug from work and tend to themselves.
Provide for their Work Needs
In our "Out Of Office: Preparing Your Team To Work From Home" article, we highlighted the importance of providing the workforce with all the tools they need to make things work in a remote setup. This includes anything from a computer, a work mobile phone, or a steady internet connection. Aside from this, you should also provide software such as cloud tools and work management systems to help ease the transition into the remote workflow. All these will contribute to a conducive work environment, ensuring that employees can get their tasks done in their allotted work hours.
Encourage Connectivity
In remote setups, the lack of face-to-face interactions can make workers feel isolated and alone. A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health revealed that isolation and burnout are very much correlated to each other. And a lot of companies are currently struggling with building company culture, which leads to lower employee retention rates. So, help your team build relationships with their coworkers by leveraging online methods, such as team calls, weekly check-ins, and even game nights. Lastly, foster good communication with your team and ask them about what they need to be able to put in their best effort.
As a responsible employer, make sure you see past your workers’ performance and value them as people. Through these simple actions, you can create a healthier work environment, allowing your employees to attain a healthy work-life balance.