4 Ways to Support Staff Wellbeing from Anywhere in the World

Remote working has been steadily increasing in recent years, with research showing that decentralized, geographically distributed workforces were growing in prevalence long before the coronavirus pandemic.

A study by FlexJobs and Global Workplace Analytics in the US showed:

• Remote working grew by 7.9% between 2016 and 2017
• The practice increased by 44% in the last five years and by 91% in the previous ten years
• Between 2005 and 2017, there was a 159% increase in remote working

The COVID-19 outbreak contributed to further growth in this way of working, with governments all over the world encouraging anyone who could work from home to do so, to stop the virus spreading in workplaces.

For employers, the health crisis has had many other implications, including further emphasizing the importance of taking care of your employees.

There are clear connections between remote working and employee wellbeing. Enabling your people to work remotely can have health benefits like:

• Reduced stress because people are less worried about commuting and getting to work on time
• Better work/life balance
• Less exposure to pollution and health risks like viruses

However, HR managers also need to think about how remote working could negatively impact staff health and wellbeing:

• Risks of social isolation and anxiety as people spend more time alone at home
• Fewer opportunities for exercise if employees can't walk or cycle to work
• Difficulty gauging how workers are feeling if managers aren't seeing them in person every day

It's undeniable that remote working is becoming more common and all the signs suggest this trend will gather pace in the coming years.

Businesses therefore need to think about positive steps and employee wellbeing initiatives that will help you take care of your remote workers.

1. Use technology to stay in touch

One defining feature of the modern world of work that has facilitated growth in remote working is the evolution of technology. Employers now have access to an enormous range of tech products and services that make it easier than ever to stay in touch with remote employees all over the world.

Videoconferencing software and instant messaging apps enable real-time contact between colleagues, while project management tools and cloud computing can help you share key data and resources.

It's important to make sure conversations aren't always about work and the immediate, day-to-day concerns of the business. Regardless of where they're based, people should have opportunities to speak to a manager or HR representative if they have concerns about issues like mental health, or if they need to ask questions that aren't directly linked to their job.

2. Make sure people switch off

One of the biggest risks of remote working, as far as employee wellbeing is concerned, is people struggling to switch off at the end of the day. When your home is also your workplace, it can be difficult to draw a line between your job and your personal life.

Encourage remote workers to adopt certain practices that will make it easier to keep their work and personal time separate.

One of the most effective ways to do this is to encourage employees to create a dedicated office space. This can help people get into the right mindset and remove distractions when they need to work, but also makes it easier for them to forget about their job and unwind when they're in other parts of their home.

Managers should also be checking in with people to make sure they're not working too much and exhausting themselves. If you notice a trend of people sending out-of-hours emails or working on documents late at night, ask if they're finding it difficult to maintain regular hours and how you can support them.

3. Encourage healthy habits

It's very easy for people who are spending their entire working day at home to fall into unhealthy habits, such as constantly snacking on sugary foods, drinking too much coffee or rarely going outside for fresh air and exercise.

Most workers won't need to be told to avoid practices like these, but it certainly doesn't hurt for employers to provide advice and resources on how people can stay fit and healthy - both mentally and physically - while working remotely.

This will demonstrate your interest in taking care of your employees and could prove particularly useful for people who have never worked this way before.

4. Continue to socialize

Being able to socialize, form relationships and make friends is, for many people, a big benefit of work that helps them deal with the challenges and stress factors of their job.

Employees who are used to the bustle and activity of a busy workplace, but now find themselves working at home on their own, might be struggling with the transition.

Left unaddressed, this could lead to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. That's why it's important to provide opportunities for people who want to socialize with their colleagues to do so.

Video calls, virtual quizzes and casual, non-work-related online chats might not be quite the same as in-person interactions, but they’ll certainly help to provide some of the enjoyment colleagues traditionally get from 'water cooler' chats and work social events.