The year 2020 has been a ton load of all things unexpected. From having longed for unlimited work-from-home a year ago, today, most employees yearn to go back to our “normal” routines, to our workspaces, but alas!

However, considering the personal safety and safety of those around us, working from home seems the best option in current times. With the unsettling pandemic, putting our health and safety at risk would undoubtedly be unwise.

While some employees have adapted fabulously to the indefinite Working from home with assistance from their organizations, some find it all the more stressful, with the workspaces invading our homes and the work-from-home culture merging the boundaries between professional and personal lives, putting their emotional health and safety in jeopardy.

Here are a few practical but easy-to-implement tips to help you settle down better at your home workspaces, balance your work and home front, and make working from home a smooth ride.

A Dedicated Workspace:

Set up a workspace that you would use only for office work, however small that space is. Considering the pandemic, employee safety, and some employees working from their hometowns, many organizations provide their employees financial assistance to set up a workspace at home. See if your organization provides that assistance and avail the same. Use ergonomic chairs for back and neck support to avoid feeling weary by the end of a working day. It would be best if your workspace is not superimposed on your personal area of the home that is meant for relaxation. Make space for your coffee (or beverage of your choice) mug, notebooks, and other stationery you may need while working. Doing this would help you stay more focused when working and more at ease while you relax.

Draw boundaries and set expectations:

Decide on your working hours and ensure that your team is aware of the same. Beginning and ending your working hours at stipulated times helps you set expectations and ensures that you have a regular routine. Keep children away from workspaces. This brings more focus during your working hours. Make sure that you disconnect as soon as you are done with your work. Keeping your work-related devices at a place, not within easy reach further helps with the temptation of checking that mail that came in just as you were logging off or ending your working hours. (Probably saving you another 2 hours you may spend more at work, and helps spend more time with your family!) Times are challenging. If any of your loved ones are affected by Covid or your safety is compromised, inform your manager and team so that they can plan the work accordingly. If you feel overwhelmed, contact a counsellor through the Employee Assistance Program. This will relieve you of the stress and provide emotional assistance and coping mechanisms.

Take breaks:

While at office workspaces, we have colleagues and teammates who ensure that we step away from our desks and systems for a break, even if it is just for a few minutes. At home, however, the chances of us losing track of time are at an all-time high. Breaks are needed to correct our postures and stretch, failing which our joints and muscular health and safety would be compromised. Set reminders to take a 5- or 10-minute break every two hours, move around a bit, and take a few sips of water. Resist looking into your mobiles during these times and instead step out for a breath of fresh air. This can help you clear your mind for the working hours, feel more relaxed when returning to workspace, and lower your stress levels, helping you get back to work refreshed. The employee assistance programs offer workshops that help you manage your time and health better. Register for the workshops to get the needed assistance to focus on your work better.

Maintain a to-do list:

Create a To-do list that you can access from all your devices. If there is something that you remember to do, even as you relax, update your to-do list so you can refer to it when you next get to your workspace. Having an accessible to-do list helps you prioritize your work and keep track of all tasks you need to accomplish. Not only does it give you a clear picture of

your day, but a to-do list also gives you a sense of purpose and a sense of accomplishment that does wonders to your mental well-being and emotional safety.

Staycations:

Several employees have been putting off utilizing our paid leaves, stating that we are already home and do not feel the need to take a day off. While working from home has its perks, taking a day or two off can do wonders for an employee’s emotional safety, wellness, and physical health. While travelling is a risk to our safety and definitely is off the agenda, for now, you could always opt for a staycation and spend guilt-free time with family or friends. But also remember to follow the safety protocols. Do not go too hard on yourself if a day does not go as planned. The next day definitely ought to be better. Include physical activity in your daily routine, and try eating at least two healthy meals for immunity and safety during this pandemic.

These tips are simple but can make a huge difference in offering assistance to maintain a sound work-life balance while working from home during this pandemic.

To know more about our Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH), Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (D,E&I) and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) solutions do write to us at connect@cecureus.com or call us at +91-7200500221.

 

According to a study done by Optum, 46% of employees in corporate in India are identified with stress. Given the current trend, anxiety and other mental health conditions have become prevalent among employees, sometimes even affecting their safety. But looking around, not many organizations have invested in end-to-end emotional safety and well-being of their employees. This could become the undoing of several organizations in the near future, thanks to the employee assistance program that has increased the awareness about anxiety, stress, and other mental health issues, and highlighted the importance of safety through workshops, counselling sessions, and assistance programs.

While this gives an over-the-top view, here is why, as HRs and leaders, you need to start investing in your employees’ mental health, emotional safety, and well-being.

Absenteeism and Presenteeism:

Absenteeism disrupts the normal functioning of the employees of a team, more so when it is unplanned or unexpected, also accounting for a significant loss in billing.

While reasons for absenteeism are many, the most common one is sickness leave, and today, sick leaves are predominantly being utilized for physical ailments and to de-stress or get better from anxiety-related mental health disorders.

Presenteeism is a relatively newer term among corporate employees in the Indian context but could be having far more severe consequences than absenteeism currently does. Presenteeism is the condition of employees being present but underperforming due to poor physical or mental health, costing the organization dearly! We must all understand that having untreated mental health conditions can lead to severe depression or give rise to suicidal thoughts in an individual, putting safety at risk.

An increase in absenteeism, presenteeism and attrition directly impacts the organization’s costs. While it may seem slightly harmless initially, it could have a lasting irrevocable impact in the long term. This is one of the prime reasons to invest in the mental well-being and safety of the employees.

Work Pressure VS Employee turnover costs:

Pressure at work for employees could be fuelled by several factors impossible deadlines, difficult-to-handle bosses, hard to please clients, a toxic work environment, to name a few! Financial and family or relationship-related pressures could add to the tension at work, leading to anxiety, stress, and other mental health conditions.

Employees begin grappling around, unable to focus on work, their potential inhibited significantly, thus impacting overall performance. The cycle continues until eventually resulting in attrition, increasing employee turnover costs! This is where having a good employee assistance program can prove beneficial. These programs offer periodic workshops and self-assessment tests to assess the anxiety and stress levels and employees’ mental health.

Employees and HR must watch for any warning signs in their colleagues like prolonged stress or anxiety, and if they are doubtful about a colleague’s emotional state, mental health, or safety, they must guide them to a counsellor through their company’s employee assistance programs.

Reduce compensation claims and health care costs:

Policies aiming at the holistic well-being of employees, considering different lifestyles, work cycles, modes of commute to and from the office, and more such factors have been known to impact employees’ compensation claims and health care costs.

With provisions that allow easy access to the workplace and incentives to curb unhealthy lifestyle choices, we as employers can help employees manoeuvre towards better physical and mental health. Organizations with similar practices and periodic workshop and assistance programs have noticed a dip in health care costs, which becomes a win-win for both the employees and the employers!

Reduce the risk of accidents and grievances:

Stress and over-working cause both physical and mental fatigue, eventually leading to lethargy at work, increasing the chances of grievances, safety risks, mishaps, and hazardous accidents, particularly in the manufacturing-based industry. Also, studies have shown that long working hours in the sector lead to anxiety and other mental health issues.

Being mindful and proactively catering to employees’ varying needs concerning family, health, emotional safety, work, and personal relationships through employee assistance programs help reduce stress, anxiety, fatigue, and ill health, further lowering the chances of accidents, grievances, assuring employee safety.

Improved Productivity:

Creating and sustaining a holistic, approachable support system for employees can ensure positive mental well-being and employee safety. Accessible employee support systems also equip employees with tools that help them retain their confidence, curbing anxiety and stress, thus boosting morale and productivity. Such assistance programs could also help instill loyalty among employees, further reducing attrition.

Safety and Security for Employees:

With technology getting incorporated into our personal and professional lives, employees today need more than just physical safety and security. With integrated workspaces and the growing freedom to work from anywhere, organizations need to ensure secure boundaries to enable employees to work with a sense of safety and security.

Overlooking such safety measures may bring anxiety and stress to employees, leading to physical and mental health issues, eventually increasing employee turnover rates for the organization. Organizations must also be stringent about Posh to ensure the safety and security of women employees.

Time to break the stigma:

Mental Health-related illnesses remain a taboo in our country, even in the higher echelons of society. Corporates are no different. Starting the conversation on mental health helps normalize the need to talk about it, enabling employees to become aware of their anxiety and stress and making them more forthcoming in seeking help to combat mental illnesses.

There is no better place than Corporates to consciously advocate the need to address safety and mental wellness for happier and healthier organizations.

Better Customer Satisfaction:

Strong employee wellness policies in the organization promote better work relationships among employees and teams to boost morale and confidence. These pave the way to higher productivity, which eventually does wonders to your customer satisfaction index.

Become the forerunner and advocate of Employee Mindfulness and Mental well-being:

In the current fast-paced work environment, it falls upon the organization to create the much-needed safety zone for employees to open up, identify their setbacks, work on them and bounce back stronger. While several international organizations have begun investing in improving employee wellness, it is high time Indian corporates did the same too!

These are the most prominent reasons to consider investing in your Employees’ mental well-being.

Proactively promote better employee-supervisor relationships, advocate for manageable, flexible work hours, and make way for healthy living even during work hours.

Contact us to plan, understand, build and implement policies that focus on mindful and holistic employee well-being, from the bottom line to the top.