As your employees grapple with dramatic changes in life post pandemic, your wellness program needs to adapt, too. Here are 5 new workplace realities organizations need to factor in and some tips to deal with them.
#1. Working From Home
For many firms, the biggest change post-COVID has been a surge in the numbers of employees working remotely. Help employees by offering health & wellness initiatives that are accessible even at home.
Work-From-Home: Offerings
Remote fitness programs
Tele-consultations with doctors and access to quality healthcare
Online access to nutritionists
#2. Increased Anxiety & Stress Levels
Employees will need added support as they juggle the increased load of household chores and childcare alongside work pressures. Loneliness, anxiety, isolation, and fear are also on the surge.
Apart from offering access to professional help, think up fun ways to alleviate stress. Grammarly’s “Good Vibes Monday” activity, for instance, showcases positive and heartwarming stories to help employees get their week off to a good start.
Increased Anxiety & Stress: Offerings
Support groups
Fun activities to lighten the mood
Informal interactions with team
Online meditation & relaxation sessions by professionals
Access to mental health counselors
#3. Difficulty Staying Active
Staying home has meant thwarting fitness activities like walking, running, or going to a group class or the gym for many people. But there are alternatives you can plan online, including online fitness programs like that offered by healthi.
Difficulty Staying Active: Offerings
Fitness buddy system
Weekly/daily “Fitness Hour” to kickstart an active lifestyle
Access to fitness apps, step counters, “take a break & walk” reminder apps
Online fitness classes for employees
#4. Uncertainty
Not knowing how long this situation will go on is messing with everyone’s minds. Reassurance and support, therefore, need to be a big part of your wellness initiatives.
American multinational 3M ran a very successful free-wheeling session on “Coping with Anxiety & Supporting Well-Being During COVID-19”, to address employee questions on everything from anxiety to managing work-life balance in the new normal.
Uncertainty: Offerings
Webinars by experts to give employees the bigger picture
Town halls with leadership team to reassure employees of business health/job security
Communication of plans to employees clearly and more often
Workshops to teach coping skills to deal with uncertainty/stress
#5. Reduced Interaction With Colleagues
Feeling isolated and disconnected from the social circle is a common fallout of the pandemic. Not being able to travel to visit loved ones in other states or cities only adds to the problem for many. Offer events and opportunities that enable some bonding and camaraderie, for both remote employees and those returning to the office.
Reduced Interaction: Offerings
Outdoor seating arrangements/cafeteria following social distancing norms
Game days and informal/fun events online
Small, well-ventilated interaction spaces with some chairs/tables at safe distances
Team time! Try online health challenges, quizzes, trivia hour etc. in teams