Prioritizing Mental Health Among Remote Employees
In the two decades leading up to 2020, remote employees were becoming more and more common. Remote work, or telecommuting, was championed for increasing employee happiness and productivity.
But the mental health crisis that began when the pandemic hit in 2020 revealed another side of remote work. People tended to feel the pressure and isolation of remote work in the context of larger concerns such as the spread of the COVID-19 virus or how to keep your kids motivated in school.
And while the positive side of remote work still holds true, companies now understand that mental health concerns can affect employees at home as much as in the office. Issues of anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns can affect the well-being and also the productivity of remote employees.
As such it’s important that remote employees are able to address their mental health concerns. So let’s review six ways that you as a business owner or supervisor can prioritize the mental health of your remote employees.
1. Set the Tone for PTO and Mental Health
Sometimes remote employees view paid time off with more than a little guilt. They hang out at home all day anyway, so who needs a day off? As a business owner, it’s important to set the tone for PTO by stating that it isn’t just for vacations and sick days. Remote employees need a mental health day, too, and can use PTO to maintain a positive outlook by recharging periodically.
2. Give Your Employees Accessible Tools to Address Mental Health
There are many apps available now that provide a range of mental health services for a range of issues. There are apps that help people develop healthy sleep habits or gain access to talk therapy. Many of these apps offer assessments, and some of them are even free. Encouraging employees to take regular mental health assessments can help them address an issue before it becomes a crisis.
3. Provide Personal Growth and Mental Health Management Resources
As a supervisor, you have a great opportunity in the arena of mental health services to provide remote employees with personal growth resources. You can link to career and personal development webinars as a lunch break activity. Also, if you have an employee assistance program (EAP), make sure that your remote workers know about it.
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4. Let Employees Know About Health Insurance Coverage
One way to prioritize mental health for your remote employees is to let them know about or remind them of the mental health benefits they have through employer-provided insurance. Access doesn’t need to be a barrier to getting help, but it often is. Sometimes people simply don’t know that their insurance company offers coverage for therapy or other mental health services. You can bridge that gap by providing clear, easy-to-read material about their insurance benefits.
5. Promote Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Working from home can sometimes mean spending long hours in your office with nothing but a dog or cat for company. Not that pets are bad (in fact, they can be a great resource for dealing with mental health challenges), but there are other ways to keep a positive outlook. Take a walk outside. Develop short, easy-to-do exercise routines. Activities like this can provide a change of scene and a boost of endorphins.
6. Check In Regularly With Remote Employees
Regular check-ins, either from the boss or another supervisor, can go a long way to brighten an employee’s outlook. Especially if a check-in includes a thank you or a comment on how great their work has been. Working from home can sometimes mean a lot of silence. This has its benefits, of course, but it can also be detrimental to mental health. There’s nothing like heartfelt encouragement to let people know that they are valued.
Final Thoughts
Simply put, prioritizing the mental health of your remote employees means making a connection. Whether it is through communicating changes in the policy of benefits or giving them self-improvement and self-care resources, remote workers need to know that they are valued.
As companies continue to navigate the changes that COVID brought to the workplace, the mental health of employees is now more important than ever. If you can help your remote workforce maximize its potential, that will in turn maximize the potential of your business.
Related:
3 Ways To Determine If An Employer Supports Mental Health At Work
Three Types Of Managers and How Each Contributes To Your Career Growth
The Impact Of Personality Masking In The Workplace On Neurodivergent Employee Mental Health
Meet The Writer!
Hi! My name is Nadia Ibrahim-Taney and I help people design happy and fulfilling careers through authentic career coaching. My expertise includes career exploration guidance, resume writing, interview prep and LinkedIn profile optimization. My pronouns are She/ Her/ Hers and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I focus on how diverse identities impact and influence folks holistically and professionally. Please connect with me on LinkedIn or at Nadia@beyonddiscoverycoaching.com
