End of Lockdown – A Return to What?
With the end of lockdown now in sight, the majority of businesses will be bringing their employees back into the workplace, but the trauma and dislocation caused by the pandemic will mean that things will not be as they were.
Many employees will be feeling nervous about the return to a workplace environment and a recent survey has revealed that 41% of UK workers have reported that their working environment during the pandemic has worsened their mental health. A spokesman for a leading business UK network said that this percentage would be “utterly unacceptable” if it related to physical injuries created by work.
Employees describe how their mental health has been affected by these environments, with some relying on antidepressants and therapy to cope, and a few reporting having had to take medical leave due to stress. The reality of brutally long hours is now a major factor, and the pandemic has been a significant contributor.
Employees working from home are now working on average, two hours a day more than they were
pre-pandemic. Many businesses have reduced employee numbers, resulting in major issues with workload for the remaining staff which has a knock-on effect on employee wellness and mental health. Many employers have talked up their concern over this issue during the pandemic, however much of that concern is merely performative. They talk about mental health, but they fail to recognise that their actions aren’t in sync with the new reality.
Employee expectations have changed significantly with the result that wellbeing needs to be considered a mainstream business issue that is integrated across every business operation. A recent report by leading business UK network recommends two key ‘call to actions’ for employers to address this problem:
Achieve parity between the management of physical health and safety, and mental health and safety with an open and accountable culture.
Support employees with relevant practices and policies.
Improving the employee experience in the workplace has therefore become an imperative for employers. This will take time and present challenges that many employers are not currently prepared to meet.
Business leaders now have the opportunity to use this moment to recalibrate and reconsider what being responsible for their employees’ safety and wellbeing truly means.
Employers need to move away from the often reactive and standalone initiatives that were prevalent before the onset of the pandemic. As we prepare to return to the workplace, businesses have a duty to understand, acknowledge and address the needs and expectations of employees with regard to wellbeing, not just paper over them with cheap headline-grabbing gimmicks.
1Stop4aGP: 360° offers an effective solution for businesses which, for an extremely affordable cost, will enable them to fully demonstrate and embed their commitment to staff wellbeing and mental health. When purchased by an employer, the service covers all employees and their immediate families, providing a holistic approach to healthcare. In addition to our core GP and prescription service, 360° offers employees personalised, on-demand advice and support from a breadth of expert mental health, financial and legal providers – a package of support unequalled within the additional healthcare industry.
Employees accessing the service will be allocated a dedicated case manager, putting them in touch with the experts who will work with them to understand their specific issues and help them to create the solutions they need to achieve a better quality of life. No matter the complexity of an individual’s case, we will be by their side until a resolution is reached.
