A new report surveying 301 HR professionals and conducted by the CIPD and People Management, found that 67 per cent of respondents said that supporting people’s mental health during the pandemic was their key challenge.
For 70 per cent of employers, making sure that staff working remotely is staying well both physically and mentally was their biggest challenge. Despite the uncertainty many employers now find themselves in, deciding on the best way to respond to the crisis as a business accounted for only 49 per cent.
Other challenges employers have found whilst dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak are 47 per cent of staff were not able to work from home; 36 per cent stated lack of government information and 34 per cent were unable to work because schools are closed.
Where staff are working at home, 65 per cent found the biggest challenge was where staff had to balance work and the commitment of looking after children; 64 per cent reported keeping the staff motivated and 57 per cent found it challenging ensuring that staff are communicating effectively with each other.
The CIPD is encouraging employers to have continual communication with their staff and to take early action in offering support - such as counselling - and stating that management should be trained and confident to support the employees’ continued well-being for both those in the workplace and those working from home.
Rachel Suff - well-being adviser at the CIPD - said:
“On one hand, these finding are welcome as it shows that the vast majority of employers do care about their staff and recognise they have a responsibility to look out for them. On the other, it does bring home the heavy toll that this crisis is putting people under, and some employers and line mangers may well be feeling out of their depth in how to best support them. There are simple steps employers can take at this time to support their staff’s mental well-being, such as reminding managers about the importance of communicating regularly with their teams, asking how they’re doing, and signposting to advice on good self-care like healthy diet, sleep and relaxation habits.”
On being asked whether more staff would be allowed to work from home - or to work unconventional hours - if the working arrangements proved successful - 41 per cent agreed they would; 9 per cent stated they would not and 12 per cent stated that they did not know.
