The uncertainty and anxiety associated with the endless Sars-CoV-2 pandemic is putting the mental health of employees to the test. Chronic stress and insecurity can result not only in impaired efficiency, but also in emotional problems. Numerous studies show that up to one in three workers has experienced a deterioration in their mental health. Psychologist Joanna Węglarz gives 5 tips for employers on how to effectively improve the well-being of their employees.

Stress, even before the coronavirus pandemic, was called the disease of the twenty-first century, and over the last year this problem has definitely intensified, because social isolation, forced work and remote learning, fear for the health and life of oneself and one’s loved ones, uncertainty about financial stability and the future in general, disrupted basic human needs, such as a sense of security or the need to belong. Experts warn that the uncertainty or even the sense of danger experienced by many of us have a negative impact on functioning in professional life. This is particularly noticeable in industries that have suffered as a result of the pandemic or in those that have had to switch to a different functioning, cope with a greater workload or meet higher requirements. In addition, many people have experienced or are experiencing uncertainty in the personal sphere. The pandemic is a global crisis that has made many people realize that what they took for granted and what they thought they could control is not so obvious.

Not only specialists and managers, but also lower-level employees are afraid of losing their jobs, lower earnings or less career opportunities. As a result, they feel lost, less confident and have trouble making decisions because there are too many unknowns. The feeling of insecurity and the changes resulting from the pandemic mean that many people are under enormous pressure, which translates into their well-being. It is known that malaise, lack of concentration, apathy or irritability negatively affect the quality of work, and people who before the pandemic achieved great results in the professional sphere may now have difficulty returning to normality.

Symptoms of deterioration of the mental condition of employees:

• decrease in productivity and deterioration of the quality of work performed;
• problem with fulfilling obligations;
• employee turnover;
• increased number of sick leaves;
• declining morale, resulting in more complaining;
• weaker interpersonal relationships;
• resistance to making changes.

– It is worth for the employer to know what is the cause of the employee’s lower efficiency and try to remedy it. More and more companies offer to talk to a psychologist or coach. It is not therapy, but short meetings that help the employee improve his functioning in various areas, e.g. delegating tasks, assertiveness, setting priorities, communication, coping with tension and stress, time management, burnout or determining a career path. It is important that they take place during working hours and are treated by employees as an element of work. Usually, 2 to 4 meetings in total, once a week, are enough to determine the problem and find solutions – says Joanna Węglarz, a valued psychologist and specialist in clinical psychology, academic lecturer and EMDR therapist from the Psychological Studio, the originator of the nationwide social campaign SCHOOL-RENEWAL.

5 ways to make employees feel better:

• Psychological support from the supervisor, i.e. short weekly meetings with the employee (offline or online) focused on his needs. During one-to-one meetings, the boss has the chance to find out what the subordinate’s personal and professional problems are, and how the company can help him overcome them. It is also important to devote time during the meetings of the whole team to interpersonal problems and a good atmosphere in the place
• Implementation of the „Well-being” program, i.e. support in the field of coping skills and improving efficiency at work. If the employer sees that the employee is resigned, overwhelmed by duties and not very productive, he can offer him the opportunity to contact a psychologist or coach to determine what he has the greatest current problems with, e.g. coping with stress, delegating tasks, assertiveness, setting priorities, communicating, etc.
• Program „Mental support for business”. If the employer sees that the employee cannot find himself in the company, does not feel part of the team, has no motivation to work, then it is worth proposing regular meetings with a psychologist or coach. This applies to both management and lower-level employees. Experts will be able to create individualized support programs based on an in-depth diagnosis of the causes of problems among employees and in the company. The employer, thanks to feedback from subordinates, can also implement appropriate changes and procedures based on the needs and capabilities of the entire team to increase its effectiveness.
• Encouraging a healthy lifestyle – the employer, out of concern for the mental and physical health of employees, should support them in improving the quality of life, e.g. encourage healthy eating (fruit days, training in a healthy diet), joint exercise (e.g. yoga at work or sports activities outside work, buying sports passes), as well as implement programs to learn how to use relaxation techniques. Mindfulness and breathing exercises are simple and very effective ways to deal with tension and stress.
• Team integration – it is worth organizing activities that will strengthen employees’ ties between themselves and with the company. These can be relaxing weekend trips (e.g. to the SPA), evening trips to clubs orrestaurants,  joint sports activities, activities for parents with children on the occasion of Santa Claus or Christmas.

Source: https://kadry.infor.pl/kadry/hrm/motywowanie/5365032,jak-poprawic-samopoczucie-pracownikow.html

Projekt otrzymał dofinansowanie z Norwegii poprzez Fundusze Norweskie 2014-2021, w ramach programu „Dialog społeczny – godna praca”.