Raise awareness of loneliness
Talk openly and recognise the shared responsibility for positive wellbeing between employers, managers and individuals — take a look at our framework for positive mental health at work.
Agree ways to keep in touch
Relying on emails alone are unlikely to be enough to prevent feelings of loneliness and isolation. If people are working from home, managers will need to work that bit harder to spot signs and symptoms. At the same time, be mindful of ‘Zoom fatigue’ and overloading employees with too many communication tools.
Do not let previous successes slide
We were all quick to arrange virtual catch-ups initially, but reports suggest that these have been trailing belarus phone number library off due to increasing work demands. Discuss ideas with employees for social activities, make time for them and make sure everyone feels included, no matter where they are working.
Help new starters settle in
Starting a new job can be a daunting experience, particularly if the process is being carried out remotely. Putting together short welcome messages from team members and management can help, as well as setting up appointments to meet colleagues virtually.
Avoid a one-size-fits-all approach
Many organisations are thinking about making homeworking permanent post-pandemic, but keep in mind by regularly analyzing your profile and using metrics that this might not suit everyone. Talk and listen to employees, involving representatives where you have them, to find ways of working that suit both the individual and the business.
If you’re in the workplace, think carefully about the layout
Interactions will of course look different with social distancing in place, but that does not mean we cannot germany cell number have them. A blog by The Conversation suggests that ease of access and making movement easier can partly compensate for distance.
The crisis presents us with the opportunity to normalise the conversation around loneliness. If we don’t, we risk another pandemic on our hands, and a hidden one at that.
See Acas’s new guidance on working from home during coronavirus, including how to keep in touch and look after your health and wellbeing.