Mental checklist

Mental health issues which impact employee wellbeing can be a significant cause for long-term absence. But there are a number of ways you can support new ways of working for a healthier, happier workforce says Richard Harris, Founder and Managing Director of Okappy

The prevalence of mental health conditions in the workplace that had remained broadly unchanged for decades have seen a dramatic increase since the pandemic, with cases of anxiety and depression on the rise. Lockdowns during the pandemic took the UK by storm. Suddenly our daily routines, which many of us had been consistently pursuing for decades, were torn away. No more daily commute, no more face-to-face meetings – suddenly we were forced to work from home and embrace the ‘new normal’.

One massive talking point the pandemic highlighted, and has remained a dominant topic, is mental health and wellbeing at work.

WORKING FROM HOME

A recent study found that as much as 20 per cent of office space in south east England could become redundant. That is around 26 million sq. ft. of office space. Although the number of workers returning to the office has been increasing steadily, it is clear that many businesses have embraced working from home.

The same study found that the amount of time workers spend out of the office has drastically changed. Prior to COVID-19, 57 per cent of office workers spent all week at the office, 34 per cent were in the office four days a week and less than 10 per cent only did three days or less. Fast forward to June 2022, only five per cent of the surveyed workers were in the office five days a week and 10 per cent were in four days a week. The biggest increases were those working two or three days in the office, seeing the numbers jump to 42 per cent and 29 per cent respectively.

A study conducted last year by the Royal Society for Public Health revealed that 45 per cent of workers felt working from home was better for their mental health, compared to the 29 per cent that said working from home damaged their wellbeing.

ENGAGING YOUR TEAM

Yet as brilliant as flexible working is for your employee’s wellbeing, I believe that an office still has a place in improving your workforce’s mental health. Last year’s study by the Royal Society for Public Health said feeling disconnected was one of the most common damages to mental health reported by those working from home. Along with feeling disconnected from colleagues, working from home can sometimes give employees a sense of isolation that would otherwise be solved by being together in an office.

When considering employee wellbeing and how working from home can benefit your workforce, it is important to listen and determine what model suits them best and it seems a hybrid approach is often most beneficial for employees and employers.

To support hybrid working, online tools like Zoom can help your team feel more connected. Hearing friendly voices and seeing familiar faces can give an office a pull factor; replicating this over a video call can help engage your team when working remotely.

An innovative field service management platform – such as Okappy’s – can also help support flexible working patterns. This digital approach means less stress and anxiety for the user, making the wider team feel more connected.

ADAPTING YOUR OFFICE SPACE

Some of the biggest companies in the world also have the best facilities in the world. Google’s London offices promote wellbeing and dialogue between employees extremely well. They have a variety of spots to sit down with the team and balconies where the people can meet outside.

Google also provides a variety of leisure activities that promote a sense of belonging and boosting productivity. These facilities give the workforce a reason to want to be in the office. Obviously, we don’t all have Google’s budget, but by incorporating spaces and practices into your workplace that encourage downtime, you can keep your employees happy. They will want to come to the office rather than seeing it as a chore.

When hybrid workers do come into the workplace, cultivating a happy and motivating workspace is vital for ensuring their mental wellbeing. One way you can achieve this is by incorporating some downtime when your workforce is in the office together. Perhaps start your Monday mornings with an informal catch-up meeting to engage the team, or operate an open-door policy where employees can pop in for an informal chat. Along with embracing new technologies to maintain a virtual connection and designing in welcoming spaces, making managment adjustments like these will show employees that you have a genuine interest in their wellbeing, wherever they are based.