Let’s face it: these aren’t easy times to live in, and all of us are doing our best to stay as calm as possible despite our news feeds constantly causing panic and anxiety. Sustaining business operations during the coronavirus pandemic, remotely or otherwise, is definitely not an easy task. On that note, here are some ways to take care of your employees during this stressful time.
Allow flexible work
Remote work has always been linked to higher productivity, but a post by Vox states that remote work only comes about when it’s a choice. Work from home nowadays means shared internet connections, lots of distractions, and decreased productivity. As such, it might be worth seeing if you can allow flexible work hours. This may mean asking your team to log their hours over an app or just send a quick message outlining the tasks they’ve completed. With social distancing means it’s hard to know what exactly people are dealing with on a daily basis, so allowing for flexible work hours is a thoughtful solution.
Hold regular check-ins
Taking the time to check up on your team members can go a long way in alleviating their anxiety. With recruitment experts Comeet linking low engagement to high turnover rates, it’s vital that you make up for the physical distance by keeping remote communication lines open. Asking your employees how they’re coping and acknowledging their anxiety shows that you value them not just because of the work they do, but more importantly because of who they are. While some employees might not open up to you, simply keeping that line open as an option is extremely important.
Encourage mental health days off
Make it known to your employees that they can take a mental day off as needed. Having an open discussion with your team about taking mental health days is a great act of support, but Stylist also emphasises the need to sort out what exactly constitutes a mental health day. Be proactive with your team and see if they can finish a few tasks here and there with some help. If they’re filled with anxiety and feel like they can’t function, or if you’re noticing a decrease in the quality of output, it might be best to allow your team member to take a day off instead.
Be open with your own struggles
This last tip is perhaps the most important. It can be tempting to put up a brave face and try to calm everyone down, but being vulnerable is one of the most powerful things a leader can do. If you’re having trouble getting your team members to communicate their issues, being open about your own shows that they’re not alone. At Zevo Health we’ve published some tips on how to manage your own anxiety, and sharing your own tips to your team members can open up a dialogue on what people are doing to cope and what kind of support you can all provide for one another.
While it may be tempting for you to hunker down and get your own work done, remember that your role also requires you to lead. It’s now more important than ever that managers step up and look after their team.
This article was authored by Amanda Denham
Exclusively for zevohealth.com
