The holiday season will look different for many this year with public health regulations preventing several traditions from taking place.
Elements that would normally cause stress and anxiety this time of year such as deadlines, financial obligations and family commitments have only been amplified as a result of COVID-19. Increased case counts, lockdowns, travel restrictions and quarantine rules from the second wave are causing distress. The mental health of people - employees, clients, supervisors or partners - is being tested and colder, darker weather doesn't help.
Being cognisant of these elements is key to getting through the next month - and beyond - with a positive frame of mind. Addressing the difficulties we're all facing head-on can help prevent these stresses from boiling over into the workplace or affecting relationships with loved ones.
Clare Duboc of Beacon spoke with NFP earlier in the pandemic about how to ride the ups and downs of COVID-19 and the toll it can take on mental health. She pointed towards resilience as the key factor for overcoming the challenges we face with the novel coronavirus.
It's all about recognizing that ˜you know what, it's OK not to be OK.' That's part of that acceptance of the imperfection, it's part of getting through, Duboc said.
Health Advocate is a US-based healthcare company that provides resources for patient advocacy with clinical and administrative services along with health and wellness programs for a positive well-being. It recently published an article on ways to support employees through the challenging season ahead.
The article says it's important for companies to understand the signs of people having a tough time and how to help identify these issues. Here are six signs to look out for, according to Health Advocate:
- Change in normal (predictable) behavior, such as becoming uncharacteristically irritable or withdrawn
- Change in appearance or hygiene
- Lack of focus or concentration
- Unusual tension with other colleagues
- Change in quality of work performance/reduction in productivity
- Absenteeism/presenteeism
Now that you know the signs to look out for, being understanding and compassionate go a long way to helping people out. Let others know you have their back with these five steps, via Health Advocate.
- With only a couple weeks left in the year, remind and encourage employees to take their earned time off, even if they are not traveling this year. Everyone needs a break to avoid burnout. Another option is to update your paid time off policy to include more rollover days.
- Provide access to fitness and mental health apps, programs and other resources.
- Remember that some employees may have their kids home over the holidays with no childcare support - try to offer flexible hours over the holidays to work with their schedules.
- Avoid scheduling too many calls/meetings that eat up employees' productive time.
- Ask that managers, supervisors and employees curtail after-hours emails whenever possible.
Offer the support your workforce needs through employee benefits such as healthcare spending accounts and employee assistance programs, wellness programs, virtual care, and support for your expatriates.