While we are looking at the potential for a second wave of COVID-19, efforts to socially distance, wear masks, and work from home are all more long-term practices as the pandemic continues. Employers can help to decrease the prevalence and risks of mental fatigue among employees, there are a variety of ways to support your team throughout the COVID-19 process.
The combination of new changes and ongoing health risks can contribute to employees feeling overwhelmed. ‘Mental Fatigue’ can occur when there is an overload in cognitive activity that leads to exhaustion. Extended durations of stress can cause people to experience ‘mental fatigue’ that can further lead to depression and anxiety. In a survey conducted by Statistics Canada regarding mental health during COVID-19, 88% of participants experienced at least one symptom of anxiety while over half of the participants reported that their mental health has overall worsened since the start of the pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all and will continue to impact our lives. As an employer, here are a few ways to support your employees’ mental health:
Overlook workload
Monitor employee’s workload to ensure that not too much is being taken on at a time, look for how you can distribute tasks amongst your team to avoid one employee taking on an overload of work.
Communicate break reminders
Remind your employees on the importance of taking breaks in between tasks and throughout the day. Send an email reminder or communicate during online meetings that taking breaks is important for mental health and productivity.
One-on-one meetings
Take the time to schedule one-on-one online meetings with your employees to check in on how they are doing. It is best to support employees on an individual basis to ensure you are addressing their concerns and support needs.
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