Remote work is here to stay whether you like it or not. And since most people don’t like changes, shifting to remote work may be challenging and hard for managers, employees, and Remote Team Managers alike.
Remote work has become a preferred option for all good reasons. It offers unprecedented flexibility and autonomy to employees as well as cost cuts to business leaders. On the flip side, remote workers may experience higher stress and anxiety levels worrying whether managers will recognize and value their work and accomplishments.
They also may feel lonely and isolated from their colleagues, thinking they’re left out of the decision-making process.
The statistics regarding these issues are clear. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), increased anxiety and depression are responsible for $1 trillion in lost productivity annually on a global level.
For all these reasons, remote employee mental health and well-being should be your top priority if you want to create an effective remote work environment.
Now that you know how remote work circumstances affect employees well being and mental health here are some effective steps you can take to create inspirational and psychologically safe remote workplaces.
Foster Seamless Communication
It’s not a brainer that effective communication is the key to remote work success. Studies have shown that employees who communicate seamlessly with their managers are 4.9 times more motivated and engaged in their work.
This task has become less demanding with an array of video conferencing tools that efficiently replace office conference rooms. You can also devise a clear communication policy determining specific channels for urgent professional communication and relaxed “water cooler” conversations.
This policy should also contain clear expectations regarding the expected response time and guidelines.
Practice Regular Check-Ins
Remote employees who often communicate with their remote team managers are more engaged in their work and feel more aligned with critical goals and projects. For this reason create regular weekly or biweekly team meetings to talk about their tasks and projects, giving them valuable feedback about their performance and guidelines for future actions and support for overcoming potential issues.
You should nurture open and honest relationships with your employees so that they can feel free and psychologically safe to talk about potential work or personal challenges they face daily.
Focus on Improving Work/Life Balance
Shifting to remote work can be very challenging blurring the lines between work and private life. Remote workers often feel the urge to prove to their remote team managers that they are highly productive, risking slipping into burnout and harming their productivity and mental health, ruining the work/life balance, and neglecting their essential needs.
Burnout signs can be subtle and difficult to discern. This is where work tracking data can be of great help, showing you the time and activities your remote employees spend at work. Once you notice that your employees tend to work long hours without taking much-needed breaks, take decisive action to prevent this harmful behavior and help them develop a healthier approach to work.
You should encourage your remote employees to take regular breaks and time off when needed, focusing on preserving and improving mental health. You should also insist on respecting fixed work hours, emphasizing that employees shouldn’t work long hours.
Offer Various Opportunities for Professional Development
Career development opportunities have become one of the top priorities for many employees when choosing a suitable workplace. This claim is supported by statistics that show that 94% of employees think that they would stay in a company that offers professional development opportunities that help them envision clear career paths.
This is why you should go above and beyond to offer meaningful and purposeful training that will upgrade employees’ skill sets and offer opportunities for professional and personal growth.
