How can employers can support staff returning to work?

After our A4C zoom meeting last week, many of our clients voiced their concerns about employees not wanting to go back to work. It is a completely understandable reaction according to mental health experts who are warning about a large spike in anxiety and fear for returning to “normality”.

The Fear

For seven weeks we have been encouraged to fully isolate, to fear the disease and avoid anyone outside our households. It is unsurprising that we should feel nervous and anxious for a second wave of infections, the lack of PPE and the unrealistic social distancing rules for many small businesses.

Doctor Nick Taylor, a clinical psychologist and CEO and co-founder of Unmind (a digital workplace mental health platform) explains, “We’ve witnessed the world turn upside down due to COVID-19, (so) there is no doubt this has affected people’s mental health”.

So, what can you, an employer, do to make the work transition easier?

A news article published by Lydia Smith called ‘Coronavirus: How employers can support people’s mental health as they go back to work’ highlights four steps for employers to follow to ease the transition back to work for those who are worrying:

1. Communicate well

Much anxiety stems from a lack of understanding and knowledge of this disease. Employers “must be able to continuously provide concrete, clear updates from trustworthy sources to their teams” as Dr Taylor explains. Speculation can cause anxiety and it is the employer’s job to minimise misinformation.

2. Check in with your team

It is vital to listen to your staff and provide support. Dr Taylor explains “Consistent two-way communication will be critical for employers and employees to understand the concerns that may arise as the return to work process takes hold.”

3. Check in with people

4. Be flexible

Although the news article put ‘Be empathetic’ and ‘Be flexible’ into one heading, it is vital to stress the importance of each separately. “Being flexible” could mean offering support those who will have difficulty in finding childcare support, those who cannot travel to work without public transport and other issues that shall prevent availability to return to work.

In conclusion

The main advice for both employees and employers is to be “empathetic, understanding, and supportive towards one another,” in order for an easier return to “normality” in the workplace.

To read the whole article, please refer to this link How Employers Can Support People Going Back to Work

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