Mental wellness days, diarised screen breaks and daily mental health checks in are among the most popular measures people from working home would like their employer to adopt to benefit their mental health.
This is according to research from life insurer Canada Life which shows more than a year after the first Covid lockdown, a new trend, the ‘fear of the office’, is emerging among Brits who have been working from home.
Of Britain’s employees working from home, this trend is more prevalent among those who have previously tested positive for Covid, with just 34% planning to return to the office. This compares to 69% of those who haven’t suffered from the virus.
While most (70%) of those who plan on returning to the office happy to adapt their working practices, home workers would like their employers to adopt a number measures to benefit their mental health including mental wellness days (54%), diarised screen breaks (48%), daily mental health check ins (44%), better access to mental health services (42%) and flexible working hours (40%).
Commenting on the research, Dan Crook, protection sales director at Canada Life, said: “The varied experiences and perspectives of employees must be considered by employers as they develop plans for the return to work later in 2021. There is no blueprint for a successful return and employers should respect the concerns and wishes of their workforce while still focusing on best business outcomes. Employers are likely to have three cohorts of employees, one group that cannot wait to return to the office, another that would happily work from home forever and a third that would like a hybrid-model of both. Ultimately, it’s going to be very hard for employers to please everyone. In reality, the return to the office should be a phased approach which is sensitive to the needs of employees. Plans should be flexible as they are likely to evolve over time…
“We’re still in the early phases of returning to the office and employers will be expected to show an understanding of their employees’ concerns. Those who actively seek to support their employees’ wellbeing will likely enjoy the benefits of a loyal and enthusiastic workforce. Employers who provide support services such as mental health counselling, 24/7 online GP appointments and diet and nutrition programmes will ensure employees and their families are well supported and in turn employees will form a positive view and feel better connected to their employer.”