Half of people working from home say their mental health has declined

Half of UK workers (49 percent) say that their mental health has declined since working from home, according to a new survey from Qualtrics. The study also claims that actions taken by companies are having a significant effect on the wellbeing of their employees, with one in five (18 percent) claiming that their organisation’s actions have had a negative impact on their mental health.

Despite many companies introducing new initiatives to improve employee wellbeing, a quarter (25 percent) of those surveyed said that nothing their company or colleagues had done improved their mental health since the outbreak of coronavirus.

When asked what actions companies could take to improve their mental health, the top three were identified as:

•     Clear expectations being provided by management (16 percent)
•     Having access to the right resources, equipment and support services (13 percent)
•     Communication from company leadership (12 percent)

Commenting on the research, Sally Winston, Head of EX Solutions Strategy EMEA, Qualtrics said: “With millions of employees now working from home en masse, many will be feeling isolated, anxious and worried about this new and stressful situation. With mental health high on the agenda for many businesses, it has never been more important to take stock of how your staff is coping with this sudden change of environment.

“The first thing any organisation needs to do is check its people are okay, and that they feel safe and supported. Afterwards, you can work out what your employees need to do their jobs, and take action to ensure all of your employees feel productive.

“There are numerous ways to ensure that the shift from working collaboratively in a group setting to working solo is managed in a stress-free and smooth process. Key to this is taking the time to listen to and act upon your employee’s feedback in this particularly stressful time. This not only ensures you’re getting the best out of your team, but also means your team is getting the best from you.”

Image by Susann Mielke