This informal CPD article ‘How to look after the mental health of remote teams’ was provided by See Her Thrive, an organisation who support an inclusive workplace with focus on creating organisations where women and anyone assigned female at birth (AFAB) can thrive.
Looking after the mental health of your employees is not only the right thing to do, it makes perfect business sense. Employees who feel supported, valued, and happy will be more productive and loyal. So how can you do this? Here are our top 5 tips…
1. Make communication a priority
Remote workers may feel more isolated than office workers and creating a team atmosphere is more challenging. So, fostering a sense of belonging and connection by encouraging virtual water cooler chats and team building activities is key. And don’t forget those non-work discussions are just as important too! Utilise technology like Slack, WhatsApp, or other messaging apps to create group chats where your employees can communicate with each other. Make sure you check in regularly with your team to make sure your people are coping and have someone to talk to.
2. Make sure your employees have access to resources and equipment to support their mental health
Perhaps you could add a hub of resources to your intranet such as articles, videos, podcasts and apps. Or introduce a dedicated therapy service that provides secure and anonymous online therapy for your employees. Another idea is providing your employees with subscriptions to meditation apps, such as Calm or Headspace, for example, to help them to rest and take a minute.
3. Put wellness initiatives in place
Home working blurs the line between work life and home life, and some workers find it tempting to answer emails in their downtime or skip lunch breaks. Online fitness classes such as yoga and pilates can support your employees’ physical health whilst also encouraging them to take some time out.
4. Don’t forget to celebrate the wins!
This can be such an easy one to overlook, but celebrating your employees’ achievements can go a long way in showing them that they are appreciated. It can be so-called small things like an email or a quick text to say “good job.” Or it can be bonuses for completing a project, for a good quarterly review, or for someone’s work anniversary or birthday. Or perhaps give them an extra day off, a half day, or a lazy morning.
5. And most importantly, trust your people!
Put simply, trust your staff to get the work done. Make sure employees have clear role clarification and know what is expected of them. And try not to micromanage; an employee who is scolded for being a few minutes late will not be encouraged to stay on later. Don’t be afraid to ask your employees for feedback about what they need from you and what would help them best to do their job well right now, and make sure you take this on board.
In summary, create and maintain open lines of communication, trust your employees, and celebrate them at any and every opportunity because they deserve it!
We hope this article was helpful. For more information from See Her Thrive, please visit their CPD Member Directory page. Alternatively, you can go to the CPD Industry Hubs for more articles, courses and events relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements.
