Wellness and The Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has been wreaking havoc to people’s lives and we are not just talking about the economic side of its impact here. The added burden to our already stressful life has left us with a higher level of anxiety than we ever had before.

Burnout and Work-from-Home Stressors

A recent survey from FlexJobs and Mental Health America has reported 75% of workers have experienced burnout at work and 40% of them say they have experienced burnout particularly during the pandemic.

The pandemic has left more and more businesses to allow their employees to work from home where they can get their jobs done in the safe confines and comforts of their homes. The daily commute to work, getting up early, preparing lunch, getting ready – all of this have been eliminated from the worker’s daily routine. Most people welcome this change with a sigh of relief. But relief seems to be temporary. After a month or so of working from home, workers feel burnt out. They are struggling to find the work-life balance that they used to have pre-COVID. Because work is very accessible, workers tend to work longer hours, while quality time with their family suffers. In many cases, people working from home are caught in a dilemma between looking after their children full-time while schools are closed and trying to get their work done.

The stress level is even heightened by a lot of different reasons, such as uncertainty brought by the pandemic, fear of losing jobs due to closures, worrying about physical distancing and contracting the virus, and adjusting to the new setup of working from home. All these could put added strain to the already troubled mind of a worker.

How Organizations Can Support Mental Health

Now, more than ever, mental health should be the number one focus of organizations during this difficult time. Productivity at work relies so much on the worker’s ability to perform well, mentally, and physically, and this will not be possible if the worker’s mind is preoccupied with a lot of different stressors. Mental health and work are directly linked together. Organizations should take this to heart and start creating an environment that promotes wellness for all its employees, whether remotely or in-office.

One way to promote wellness is by maintaining a flexible work-life balance and creating a work environment that fosters emotional support. Organizations can support mental health by

• • Allowing for flexibility in the workday
  • Offering mental health days
  • Offering emotional support through one on one conversations with an HR personnel
  • Regularly keeping in touch with employees who work remotely

Flexible Work Arrangements Can Promote Wellness and Mental Health

Flexible work arrangements could also be offered to improve the employee’s quality of life. A combination of remote work and in-office is a set-up that has been proven to be effective in some organizations. This gives the employee a change of environment to prevent them from feeling like they are stuck in one place. In cases where returning to the regular office is not possible due to physical distancing restrictions, employees can be offered a remote serviced office where they could go about with their tasks for the day and still enjoy an office environment sans co-mingling with other workers.

Working Remotely in a Serviced Office can be a Good Option

A casual serviced office will come very handy in these kinds of situations. CBD Office Limited provides such a service complete with a reception, Wi-Fi, and unlimited coffee to see you through the day. Their services also include the use of a wellness room, reception lounge, and the opportunity to have a little chat with other tenants. Meeting rooms are also available for when you wish to meet with clients.

Centrally located in downtown Auckland, CBD Office provides an option for organizations that are proactively seeking to improve the overall mental health and wellness of their employees.

By: Diana Subido Mendoza