Stress And Depression In The Workplace - COVID19 And Working From Home

 

Stress and depression in the workplace is a common issue, especially during the pandemic. The employees that can have moved to work from home, while others may feel anxious going out to work, but not have many choices in the matter.

COVID-19 has forced many to work in a completely different way. Having an office job may mean you can work from home, but there is no ‘water cooler’ conversation, and routinely falls apart over time when you no longer need to commute. Suddenly, you’re working in your pyjamas, sitting on your sofa with a coffee and a blanket. While this is cosy, over time it can ruin your idea of what relaxation is. Working on the sofa, a place where you might usually relax, suddenly makes it seem like a less relaxing place to be. It is the same if you have a desktop computer to work from your bedroom.

Employers may send their employees to work from home with computers, desks and desk chairs from the office. This is great for making sure that your employees have a decent work set-up so that they can prevent RSI. However, not everybody has enough space to set up a desk and desktop computer. This can lead to not so good set-ups and increase the risk of repetitive strain injury and back problems. Courses can be sent out so that everybody knows how they are supposed to sit, but really there is no way to make sure that your employees have the correct set up all of the time.

Back, shoulder and other repetitive strain pain can cause stress in the workplace. Not being able to relax in spare time can also cause stress. When the workplace is suddenly your home, you might struggle to know when to stop work. It might be hard to feel motivated to start work as well. Being overly productive or counterproductive can have an effect on emotional well-being.

It’s important for employers to regularly check on their employees during this time and show kindness and understanding to those who are struggling with any changes that may have been made. It might be good to set up regular group meetings (online) in order to keep the team spirit alive. Encourage them to speak up if they’re struggling, and see what changes you could make to improve their situation.