Does remote work, work for you?
When remote work was first mandated post the lockdown, the change was met with resounding acceptance by employees across the country, and around the world. The ostensible flexibility in “making your own hours” and time saved not traveling seemed reasonable enough to support this shift. However, the impact of work extends to numerous areas of one’s life. One such area, more well-known only in recent years, is the intersection of work and mental health.
From a psychological perspective, WHO states that there are five ways in which a workplace contributes towards an individual’s mental wellness. These include
- Time structure
- Social contact
- Collective effort and purpose
- Social identity, and
- Regular activity
By building one’s policies on these dimensions, companies play a massive role in supporting their employee’s physical and mental health. However, with the emergence of the outbreak, the corporate sector has found itself deprived of these basic psychological needs making it even more essential for companies to adapt and adopt practices that will benefit the overall work environment.
How has work-from-home impacted mental health?
While many may believe that the flexible schedule and no commute would contribute to individuals feeling a lot more relaxed, the situation is not as positive as is thought to be. An analysis conducted by Nick Routley at VisualCapitalist sheds light on the multiple problems being faced by remote workers.
In an interview with Livemint, psychology professor Shalaka Shah at Flame University described how one’s inability to detach from work and the presence of artificial, rather than meaningful interactions has adversely added to the personal pressures an employee might currently face. Livemint further added that there has been a rise in 20 percent of the reported cases of mental illnesses as determined by the Indian Psychiatry Society ever since the pandemic started.
Recent research conducted by LinkedIn highlights how one’s career importantly acts as a source of purpose in life, the disruption of which can be quite mentally disturbing. The study looked into the mental conditions of remote workers in Ireland and found that over 50 percent of the respondents reported feeling more anxious and stressed now than they did before the lockdown due to work. Apart from stress and fear, isolation and uncertainty have also contributed to varying levels of depression and substance abuse. While the situation is difficult, it calls upon workplaces to portray a higher level of compassion and make room for the addressing of mental health concerns when raised by employees.
Enhancing Mental Health in the Workplace
Building a remote team?
With a rapidly increasing number of organizations adopting remote work, there are specific skills such as grit, collaboration, and professional reliability that Skillr can help measure to understand those who will perform well in remote environments. Building a team in this manner allows for uninterrupted performance, without overlooking the mental health of your people.
Over many years, research has suggested various other practices that can be adopted for the improvement of mental health in the workplace, such as:
Tips for employers:
- Be empathetic towards your employees and create a space where staff members can talk and be reassured by you.
- Encourage and provide opportunities for online training. This helps employees enhance their skills and find an outlet for the isolation that the pandemic brings.
- Make use of the video call feature as much as possible! With everything virtual, a direct form of communication like video calling can be motivating and comforting.
Tips for employees:
- Acknowledge how stressful this situation can be and access the mental health resources available to you.
- Do not hesitate to reach out to colleagues or managers if believe your mental health is deteriorating
- Create a daily schedule and designate a separate space of your house for work
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