Employee health and well-being is top of mind right now for HR. There is a strong focus on steps organisations can take, both immediately and in the long term, to ensure their workforce comes through 2020 happy, healthy and productive.
Many companies have approached this challenge with enhanced workplace training and upgrading of relaxation facilities. For those still unable to physically come into the office, various tools have emerged to help employers and their employees manage stress care and provide added emotional support. The trend that seems to be emerging is of an initial burst of productivity when staff, newly working from home (WFH), catch up with their work backlog and enjoy the lifestyle and financial benefits of cutting out their daily commute. However, over time, the WFH process has stretched lines of communication and given rise to several novel psychological ‘workplace’ challenges.
Research carried out in June 2020 in the Cigna COVID-19 Global Impact Study, found overall well-being has declined slightly since the previous quarter. Early in the pandemic-forced move to WFH, participants reported a decline in financial and social well-being, but a slight improvement in physical, family and work scores. The Study indicates that physical scores have now returned to pre-COVID-19 levels. In contrast, however, family and work scores continue to fall as the pandemic drags on. Financial pressures are now also weighing on employees and employers more than ever.
"It is essential that we keep checking in with each other so we can support our friends, family and colleagues during this uncertainty."
Employee ‘stress care’ is now becoming an essential part of today’s HR toolkit. Jason Sadler, President, Cigna International Markets, said, “We are now at a critical stage of the pandemic, as people try to understand how to best adapt to a changing world. It is essential that we keep checking in with each other so we can support our friends, family and colleagues during this uncertainty.” Tools and insights that help support employers and individuals with employee stress care are essential for HR. To help meet this need Cigna’s International Markets business has just launched Check In, a global initiative to help employees, and HR, take control of stress, advising on how to cope with stress, how to support children and how to support colleagues. It includes a range of tools both for employers and individuals to help them manage teams, balance home/office working and protect well-being with advice from clinical leaders and third-party psychological and financial specialists.
"Levels of disconnection are now increasing. We attribute this to ‘Zoom fatigue’ as regular calls decline and concerns increase … stress is a major cause of physical and mental illness.”
Dr Dawn Soo, Head of Clinical and Wellness, Cigna International Markets, added, “Our research shows that despite some improvements in well-being at the beginning of the crisis, levels of disconnection are now increasing. We attribute this to ‘Zoom fatigue’ as regular calls decline and concerns increase … stress is a major cause of physical and mental illness.” Another critical trend emerging is declining physical health scores. Despite the reported increases in exercise in many markets at the beginning of the pandemic, nearly half (47%) now say they aren’t getting enough exercise, compared to 44% in April. In addition, growing worries seem to be causing more restless nights, with only 31% saying they were getting enough sleep, compared to 34% in April.
We all need to focus our efforts and keep checking in with colleagues right now. Uncertainty creates stress, yet human connections help reduce it, and by working together, HR can ensure the entire workforce, and themselves, emerge from the crisis healthier and more resilient.
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
