The COVID-19 crisis has disrupted lives all over the world. People have stopped going to work, have started working from home and zoom meetings are the only way to connect with their peers. The isolation and new circumstances have triggered mental health issues. As per a WHO survey, the demand for mental health services has increased in the COVID-19 era.

So, the answer to is COVID-19 playing with the mind of employees is yes. The new circumstances and new ways of working have made people more anxious and have pushed some of them towards depression as well. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 41% of adults in the US are struggling with the mental health of substance use. This is double of what was reported in the pre-COVID-19 times.

The key reasons why the mental health of employees is impacted are mentioned here.

Fear of Job Loss

Though many corporates have risen beautifully to the challenge by offering advance salaries, not doing pay cuts and being generous with bonuses to help struggling employees despite facing losses to the business initially, things are changing now. After months of struggle to maintain revenue and profits, companies have started with options like pay cuts and layoffs. In such a situation, the fear of job loss is triggering mental health issues of employees.

Financial Worries

Another stress that has been harming the mental health of employees is financial worries. People have to pay the mortgage, deal with pay cuts and often have to invest in healthcare products & services to protect themselves and their loved ones in addition to dealing with the day to day expenses.

Disrupted Work-Life Balance

As many employees are now working from home, the work-life balance has been shaken badly. Employees who were particular about not bringing work home have no choice but to do that. The time spent with family, friends and loved ones has reduced due to the rising work pressure. Also, as many kids have switched to online classes, the home responsibilities have grown considerably, but there is no extra time to spend with the kids. It also harms the mental health of employees.

Health Scare/ Losing a Loved One

A common thing that has had most people worried about is the stress of the possibility of contracting COVID-19 themselves or fearing that it will affect a vulnerable loved one. Many people in the US have also lost a loved one due to the pandemic, and their pain and emotional hurt cannot even be expressed in words.

Lack of Social Support

It is a fact that when humans face a crisis, they turn to each other for mental and emotional support. The COVID-19 crisis has limited this as well because you can’t see or meet your loved ones but can mostly talk to them via phone or video calls. The lack of support, isolation and lockdowns have made people lonelier than ever.

How Can Employers Help?

In these testing times, employers must step up and help employees. It can be done in several ways. Some of which are listed below.

• Talking to employees about their mental health issues.
• Making activities that boost mental health, like counselling or meditation more easily available.
• Training employees and managers on recognizing the signs of mental health issues.
• Assuring employees that their job is safe and offering financial assistance whenever possible.
• The supervisors must lead by example and talk about how they are coping with the situation.
• Letting employees highlight their worst fears and addressing them.
• Staying in touch with employees who are facing a mental health issue and checking up on them.

Final Words

In essence, it can be said that yes, COVID-19 is playing with the mind of employees and affecting their mental health. In such a time, employers must step up and take actions to help the employees. Employees who have lost their job due to the COVID-19 crisis can also seek the help of a professional to restart their lives. The team of Laura M. Wilson offers details on the assistance they can seek like Return-to-Work Supplement Program California, availing return to Work Voucher and using the return to Work Voucher California for enhancing their skills and restarting their careers. Call us toll-free on (800) 531-5608 to set up an appointment.

Sources

• https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/1348-9585.12134
• https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/wellness-prevention/mental-health-workplace-during-covid-19-how-can-employers-help
• https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=7e51ec36-301f-4ba9-a67d-355f006f0a9f
• https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/how-companies-can-maintain-employee-mental-health-in-the-time-of-covid-19-120061300423_1.html
• https://www.who.int/news/item/05-10-2020-covid-19-disrupting-mental-health-services-in-most-countries-who-survey
• https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/trends/employee-experience/rethinking-employee-mental-health-in-a-covid-19-era/78626933
• https://www.strategy-business.com/article/COVID-19-places-a-heightened-emphasis-on-mental-health?gko=6b6dd