How to foster wellbeing among employees post COVID-19

Ensure your employees feel safe

Many people are apprehensive about the risks involved with leaving the house and being around large groups of people following the pandemic. It is important to not only reassure your employees, but to ensure the right protocols are in place so that they feel safe when working and visiting the workplace. This could include a desk-booking system, a limit on the number of people at the workplace, providing sanitiser and masks, cleaning the workplace thoroughly each day, allowing employees to work from where they feel comfortable, and asking what would make them more comfortable going forward.

Listen to your employees

The easiest way to find out how someone is feeling is by talking to them directly. Organising regular catch-up meetings, virtual or in-person, could have a big positive impact on someone’s day. Friendly conversations will give employees an opportunity to tell you if they are experiencing any issues, allowing you to help them find a solution before the problem gets worse. Making sure employees’ concerns are listened to will improve overall staff wellbeing and morale at work. Other ways to find out how people are feeling include anonymous surveys, group discussions and feedback forms.

Create and promote ways for people to seek advice

Whether someone is facing an issue at work or at home, they may benefit from having someone to talk to. Consider putting together a wellbeing team of volunteers that employees can reach out to for confidential conversations and guidance. They may not feel comfortable talking to someone in their own team so make sure to involve people from various departments. Providing a training course on wellbeing will also better equip staff to support others and improve the quality of their advice.

Make mental health a priority

Today, mental health and wellbeing is being talked about more openly in the workplace. Many employers have taken steps to make the topic a priority and include it in their work policies, for example by naming it as a reason to take a day off and introducing measures to maintain wellbeing. This has involved offering support such as counselling for those that are struggling. Promoting wellbeing and raising awareness around it at work can help to prevent mental illness, making employees both happier and safer.

Embrace changes caused by the pandemic

The pandemic has caused many changes, especially when it comes to work. This has resulted in a lot of uncertainty among employees, but it is also an opportunity for businesses to develop. Restructuring, refocusing and rebuilding can be exciting and lead to more opportunities for staff. By embracing these changes and adapting to them, your team can feel motivated instead of worried, and look forward to the future. Making the most of new changes will also help to future-proof your organisation, such as continuing to use online platforms effectively and offering flexible or hybrid working policies.

For more on managing employees post COVID-19, see our How to motivate employees returning to work after COVID-19.

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