Has the COVID-19 pandemic shifted your operations where many employees are remote full-time, or part of the time? While working remotely has its benefits (minimized distractions, comfy pants, and convenient snack options), it also disconnects employees and can even fragment a corporate culture.It can also be really freaking lonely. A recent study by Harvard University1 noted 36% of Americans reported feeling “serious loneliness” during the pandemic. Isolation and loneliness are linked to a myriad of poor health outcomes, including heart disease, stroke, or even suicide, and related mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
However, there’s an irony to the value of remote work. While loneliness has increased during periods of isolation, most employees (a recent survey found 68% of them) want to continue working from home, at least part of the time. 2 If you surveyed your employees, you may be surprised how many of them value remote work, so much that going back to the office would push your employees to consider work elsewhere. (Plus, you can save on rent and utilities by reducing office space).
The makeup of the modern work office has certainly changed, perhaps permanently. But you can put the power of connectivity back in your hands to improve employee wellness…even at a distance.
Here are a few ways to empower your employees to take back their mental and physical wellbeing while working remotely.
- Telehealth: The pandemic introduced the concept of virtual health to many employees. These options can allow for video conferencing with a health provider, using apps for tracking diagnostics and diagnoses, and even provide virtual services such as counseling. And even if your employees are partially returning to office, they may wish to continue leveraging telehealth. 3 It’s benefits are expansive – it can save time and money for your employees, while increasing usage and engagement in wellness.
- Wellness education: If you publish a company newsletter or host a Facebook group, share wellness tips and techniques that are proven to improve your physical and mental health – like meditation, yoga, and sleep hygiene. A healthy mind promotes overall wellness which can help stave off stress and even improve productivity at work!
- Career education: Remote work hasn’t stopped the ideal of career progression and opportunity. Offering online classes (LinkedIn Learning offers great options) to employees brings added learning opportunities, which can generate new ideas, foster collaboration, and even stimulate added productivity.
- Consider alternate work schedules: If your company can operate using flexible work schedules, why not offer them? Consider implementing a schedule where employees can work longer days to enjoy an extra day off during the week, or start and end shifts on a wider, more flexible schedule. A level of flexibility can bring added advantage in customer service by opening the window to taking inquiries from customers.
- Health subsidies: Providing kickbacks to employees can expand the array of wellness options to your employees and incentivize them to invest in wellness. You could offer these financial incentives toward a wellness app, like Calm to minimize stress and improve focus, or toward a gym or wellness equipment for in-home workouts.
- Virtual social gatherings: Host a virtual yoga class, employee “party” or offer free entertainment (even if it’s in the arena of showing off family pets or showcasing an employee’s talents). Keeping attendance small per gathering can increase the collaboration between attendees and foster a sense of connection and being part of the “team.”
Keystone’s staff of employee benefits experts can help you design a health and wellness plan that educates, engages, and enables your staff to make health and wellbeing a lifestyle, reducing claims and costs to your business, while improving the lives of your workforce.
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