Contacts
How to help employees reduce stress and manage mental health issues
The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent shelter-in-place orders have put unusual stress on the mental health of every employee who has to work from home. It obviously places far greater strain on those employees who are required to go to work, especially those who have to deal directly with the public.
Employees can feel as though they’re standing on quicksand, rather than solid ground. They’re not sure how to live their lives or how to move forward. They face possible financial insecurity along with isolation, fear of being alone and fear of the coronavirus itself, boredom, being overwhelmed by having to deal with family day and night while they try to balance work, and more.
There are even reports of people showing signs and symptoms of depression due to seeing what they look like on web cameras with no showers or make up and often in the worst possible light.
Mental health is a critical issue — with or without the pandemic
Stress is a part of life, but people react to it in different ways. The effects of stress can be significantly exacerbated by everything from financial difficulties to family problems to a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employees who suffer from mental health issues are no different from those who have physical problems or an illness that requires treatment. It is not something they — or you — can afford to ignore. Mental health issues should be recognized and they should be treated.
What can you do to help employees cope, especially right now with the additional and potentially overwhelming stress of having to work from home, often with a family right on top of them?
Stress takes a toll
Stress is like stretching a rubber band. Over time it will lose strength, unravel and eventually snap. That’s what can happen to bodies and minds when they are hit with a variety of stressors, all coming at them at once over a long period of time. Eventually, stress will take a toll.
On the other hand, stress can be a positive factor in our lives. It can spur us on to be better parents, partners and employees. It can focus our attention. In fact, feeling somewhat stressed or worried is normal.
But when you add up job, kids, finances, extended family, caring for a home, doing errands and much, much more — and then add having to shelter-in-place for a month or more — stress can become traumatic. And, if it continues, it can cause burnout. Or far worse.
Stress can lead to anxiety, then depression
Stress can result in anxiety, particularly if an employee is already predisposed to having some form of anxiety disorder. It’s the feeling of dread or an undefined restlessness, and it can result in feeling tense, fatigued, and sick with headaches and stomach aches. And that anxiety can lead to depression. Depression can be managed, but it can also be a harbinger.
Mental health during a pandemic
Excerpted from the New England Journal of Medicine, published April 13, 2020:
Public health emergencies may affect the health, safety, and well-being of both individuals
(insecurity, confusion, emotional isolation) and communities (economic loss, work and school closures, inadequate resources for medical response, and deficient distribution of necessities).
These effects may translate into a range of emotional reactions, unhealthy behaviors, and noncompliance with public health directives in people who contract the disease and in the general population. Extensive research in disaster mental health has established that emotional distress is ubiquitous in affected populations — a finding certain to be echoed in populations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
How do you help employees right now — and in the future?
What kind of support can you offer for employees’ mental health issues? There are fundamental ways you can help that can have immediate effect.
- Start by being empathetic
Demonstrate that you truly understand and are able to share an employee’s feelings. If and when someone shares that they’re feeling overwhelmed, in crisis or depressed, make sure you acknowledge those feelings. Don’t belittle them or try to pass them off as not important. Even if they don’t sound like big problems to you, they are to that individual. - Listen before you talk
Whether an employee is expressing a problem or an idea, you should listen with an open mind and make that employee feel valued. You don’t have to solve their problems, you simply have to make sure they feel heard. Listening also helps generate connections with others and lets them know you have their backs. Once the employee has finished talking, summarize what you heard and ask questions to make sure you understand. Then, if it makes sense, point them to possible solutions. - Use compassionate language
Use empathetic language that makes employees feel that you are appreciating what they’re saying or feeling. Don’t brush off what the employee is saying by explaining you’ve experienced the same thing and were able to get through it. It’s fine to share experiences but not when it invalidates someone else’s problem.
Think of yourself as the flight attendant during turbulence. Stay calm and let the employee know they’re in a safe place. - Support healthy social connections
This is obviously more difficult during this time of COVID-19, but social distancing has created even more of a need to be socially connected. But it’s not impossible.- Try asking employees to share funny, real-life examples of what’s going on in their limited world.
- Create a company-specific hashtag to share moments.
- Support efforts by teams or the entire company to do whatever they can to help those who are more affected by the pandemic — first responders, health care workers, grocery store workers, the working poor, homeless people, and more. Raise money for local food banks or other charities. Donate whatever you can.
What’s the best way to communicate with employees?
How you talk to employees, especially concerning their mental health — and especially during a crisis period like the one we’re currently going through — is as critical as what you tell them.
- Above all be empathetic. Listen carefully to what employees tell you and make sure they feel that you truly understand them.
- Lecturing or pontificating is equally as unproductive (not to mention counter-productive) as over-promising or avoiding tough subjects. Your employees want the truth, but they’d like it to come from a human being they trust.
- Be assertive without being pushy. Be clear, concise and share information in a way that respects the dignity of every employee. Make sure the right people get the right information in the most efficient, direct way possible.
- If you don’t know the answer, admit it. Let employees know you’ll find out and get back to them. Be honest and transparent about the positives as well as the negatives.
- Try not to micromanage. You’re a manager, not a baby sitter. Trust your employees — even when they’re not in the office where you can see them — to get their jobs done right.
- Make sure employees know that the company values them more than profits or productivity. Nothing happens without your employees — and when you focus on them, you’ll discover that productivity, engagement and teamwork all increase.
- Finally, use the best form of communication for the task. For example, a lot of detailed information should be communicated by email, possibly with a downloadable PDF attached. In-person or by phone would be the best way to deliver more personal information. If you need interaction among a team, use video conferencing (in-person meetings will come back eventually).
Make sure employees have what they need to succeed
Most employees don’t work from home, which means most employees aren’t set up to work remotely. Make sure they have the resources, equipment and materials necessary to do their jobs. For example:
- Laptop or tablet
- Phone line for work, if necessary
- Internet/VPN access to company files
- Applications needed to complete tasks
- Home access to any file sharing or HR software
- Company email access
- Access to video conferencing
But support goes beyond tools and resources. You also need to make sure they have meaningful support that helps them understand what is expected of them and why:
- Clarify priorities and expectations
- Make sure employees have access to you
- Express our gratitude and encourage others to do the same
- Insist that employees take frequent breaks
- Ask about people’s emotional states
- Offer to host discussions where people can get extra support from team members
You can also help employees working from home to better cope with the situation by offering them access to resources that will help them keep children occupied, connect socially and more.
Supporting employees who need to go to work
Working from home works for some employees, but what about those who still need to leave home and go to work? Transit drivers. Grocery store employees. Health care workers. And more.
- Provide resources for employee safety. Make sure everyone who needs it has personal protection equipment (PPE) and sanitizing products.
- Encourage any employee who feels ill, especially those who exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19, to go home and stay there. Check in with those employees regularly.
- Encourage social distancing.
- Offer a sick leave policy.
You can find more information at OSHA.gov to help prevent workers from exposure to COVID-19 and specific recommendations for those in health care, death care, laboratories, airline operations, border protection, solid waste and wastewater management workers and business travel abroad.
Adjusting expectations — your employees and your own
Right now, employees are attempting to maintain a normal working pace while sharing close contact with spouses, significant others, children, pets, roommates and extended family. This is equivalent to doubling their workload as well as adding significantly to their stress levels.
If you insist on having them produce the same output and attend as many meetings as before the pandemic, your employees are headed for burnout. And that will affect you as much as does them.
At least during the period where we’re all required to stay home from work, consider the following:
- Change your idea of a “typical” work day. Many of your employees will actually find it easier to get work done in the evening or on weekends while they’re home. Cut them some slack regarding due dates. Be as fluid and flexible as possible with schedules and how many hours an employee is putting in during what used to be a “normal” work day.
- Focus on key performance deliverables. In other words, don’t sweat the small stuff (see above). Help your managers focus on valuable benchmarks rather than “finishing tasks.” That avoids the problems caused by employees feeling that the organization doesn’t trust them to be productive if they aren’t being micromanaged and monitored.
Other ways you can support employee mental health
Mental health is a continuum — it can range from feeling a bit overwhelmed by life and work to being diagnosed with a mental health disorder. A one size solution does not fit all.
- You can help employees access a wide range of tools to help them lower burn out and the possibility of depression, achieve a better work/life balance, reduce conflict at work (and even at home), improve sleep quality, and reach higher levels of happiness.
- There are apps, many of them free, that can help employees practice mindfulness and meditation to help them focus and relax.
- You can offer online support groups or the company can also provide access to telehealth services where employees can talk with a mental health professional online.
- If the problems are more serious and immediate, direct employees to a Crisis Hot Line.
- You can even recommend simple solutions, including:
- Walking and exercising
- Stretching
- Mindful breathing
- Taking breaks
- Creating varied routines
- Staying in touch with friends and co-workers
- Eating healthier, more nutritious foods
- Develop a healthy lifestyle, including not smoking, drinking in moderation, getting enough sleep — anything that can help support the immune system
- Being grateful for what you have and for others
- Finding ways to have fun
- Practice being “present” to avoid anxiety (take a moment to notice five things they can see, four they can touch, three they can hear, two they can smell, and one they can taste to keep them in the moment)
In other words, anything that can help employees feel more in control of their emotions, have more positive interactions and even find ways to create space between work life and home life, especially during the pandemic.
How MMA can help
Marsh & McLennan Agency has the expertise and the experience to help you create the right kind of plan for your employee population and the best ways to communicate with employees about mental health. To learn more, get in touch with your MMA representative.
Additional Resources:
- Wellness Council of America (WELCOA) – https://welcoa.org
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - https://www.nami.org/covid-19-guide
- Mental Health America Toolkit - https://mhanational.org/mental-health-month-2020-toolkit-download
- VirginPulse - https://yourhomebase.virginpulse.com/your-homebase
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/
- MMA’s COVID-19 resource page - https://mma.marshmma.com/coronavirus-outbreak-resource-page
- The Bounce Back Project - https://www.bouncebackproject.org/
- Your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and health plan (tele-medicine/virtual health)
You May Also Be Interested In
- Event
01.26.2021
Webcast | COVID-19 Vaccine – What Employers Need to Know
- Event
01.27.2021
Webinar | The New Norm: Maintaining Productivity While Working From Home
- Event
02.04.2021
Webcast | Continued Road to the Vaccine: Clinical and Compliance Considerations for Employers
- Event
02.09.2021
Webinar | 1+2=5? Understanding Your Benefits Cafeteria Plan
- Event
02.10.2021
Webcast | COVID-19 Sick Leave Laws in 2021 and Return to Work Considerations
- Event
01.20.2021
Webinar | New Developments in the Classification of Workers
- Blog
01.19.2021
Succession. It’s about business continuity, not simply who’s in charge.
- Blog
01.14.2021
Benefits News and Views
- Event
01.13.2021
Webinar | Leave of Absence and Return to Work Issues in the Era of COVID-19
- Blog
01.13.2021
How do you Keep Employees Engaged During the Pandemic?
- Blog
01.13.2021
Quick Answers to COVID-19 Vaccine Questions
- Blog
01.12.2021
COVID-19 Communications for Senior Housing Facilities
- Blog
01.07.2021
COVID-19 Vaccine Employer Fact Sheet
- Blog
12.31.2020
WellConnected Resources
- Blog
12.29.2020
A Coronavirus Update for Employers
- Event
12.17.2020
Webinar | Year End Checklist 2020 and Future Forecast 2021
- Event
12.16.2020
Webcast | Road to the Vaccine
- Event
11.19.2020
Webinar | ACA Reporting Requirements 2020
- Event
11.12.2020
Webcast | 2020 Election Results: The Impact to Benefit Plans
- Blog
11.12.2020
Live Well Work Well Newsletters
- Event
10.21.2020
Webinar | Telemedicine: Permanent Solution or Temporary Fix
- Blog
10.20.2020
Containing Health Care Costs While Trying to Contain the Coronavirus
- Event
10.15.2020
Webinar | Health Savings Accounts 2020
- Blog
10.14.2020
INSIGHTS Newsletter
- Event
10.08.2020
Lunch & Learn: Take Charge Health
- Blog
10.02.2020
Potential Employment-Related Claims Resulting from COVID-19
- Event
09.29.2020
Webinar | Ergonomics and the Stress of Working From Home
- Blog
09.24.2020
DOL Issues New FFCRA Leave Guidance
- Event
09.17.2020
Webinar | FMLA and Employee Benefits 2020
- Event
09.15.2020
Webcast | Benefit Administration: State of the Market
- Blog
08.21.2020
Open Enrollment Going Virtual
- Event
08.20.2020
Webinar | Compliance Considerations When Self-Insuring 2020
- Event
08.11.2020
Webinar | UMass Memorial Health Care: COVID-19 Response, Recover, Reimagine
- Blog
08.05.2020
Forum Launches "Tell Me How": COVID-19 Mental Health Videos & Resource Website
- Event
07.22.2020
WEBINAR | Next Chapter: Massachusetts Family Leave Act 2021
- Blog
07.22.2020
The Rise of State Individual Mandates - July 2020
- Event
07.21.2020
Webcast | Senior Care - The New Normal
- Event
07.16.2020
Webinar | Annual Required Notices 2020
- Event
06.25.2020
Webcast | Navigating the Cyber Liability as Organizations Return to the Workplace
- Event
06.25.2020
Webinar | Paycheck Protection Program- Q & A Town Hall
- Blog
06.19.2020
California Insurance Commissioner Issues Decision on Special Regulatory Filing
- Event
06.18.2020
Webcast | Navigating the D&O Market Through Unprecedented Times
- Event
06.17.2020
Webinar | Financial Wellbeing: Essential to the Health of Your Employees
- Blog
06.17.2020
National Safety Month: Check Your Safety Lens with a safety perception survey
- Blog
06.16.2020
COVID-19 Plan Administration Relief: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
- Blog
06.16.2020
Connecting with Your Five Employee Demographics
- Event
05.28.2020
Webcast | COVID-19 Update: Navigating the Coronavirus, Vaccines, Testing and Wellbeing
- Blog
05.26.2020
Workplace Wellness: Transform the Five Areas of Wellbeing
- Event
05.21.2020
Webinar | COBRA 2020
- Blog
05.21.2020
COVID-19 – One More Reason to Address Mental Health
- Event
05.19.2020
Webinar | Legal and Compliance Return to the Workplace: Considerations for Employers
- Blog
05.19.2020
WCIRB Recommendations Offer CA Employers Temporary Relief from Workers' Comp Claims Related to COVID-19
- Blog
05.18.2020
Q1/2020 Business Insurance Marketplace
- Event
05.14.2020
Webcast | Navigating the Coronavirus & Keeping Your Plans Compliant
- Blog
05.13.2020
Diversification: A COVID-19 Survival Tactic for Transportation Companies
- Blog
05.13.2020
NCCI Rule Excludes Payroll to Furloughed Workers from Workers’ Comp Premiums
- Blog
05.11.2020
IRS and DOL Extend Filing Deadlines Due to COVID-19
- Blog
05.05.2020
Return-to-Work FAQ
- Event
04.30.2020
Webcast | COVID-19: Managing the Impact- Weekly Update 4.30.20
- Blog
04.27.2020
Client Advisory: Dealing with increasing retail cyber risks during the COVID-19 crisis
- Blog
04.27.2020
COVID-19 Impact on Self-Funded, Employer-Sponsored Health Plans
- Blog
04.20.2020
Face Masks
- Blog
04.20.2020
IRS Extends Deadlines Due to COVID-19
- Blog
04.20.2020
Diversity and Inclusion and the Battle for Talent
- Event
04.16.2020
Webcast | COVID-19: Managing the Impact- Weekly Update 4.16.20
- Blog
04.10.2020
CARES Act Signed Into Law
- Event
04.09.2020
Webcast | COVID-19: Managing the Impact- Weekly Update 4.9.20
- Blog
04.09.2020
Client Alert Effective Immediately: Minnesota workers’ compensation bill to protect first responders and others is now law
- Blog
04.09.2020
COVID-19 Employee Resource Guide
- Blog
04.08.2020
COVID-19 Implications for EPA’s Enforcement
- Event
04.07.2020
WEBINAR | Ask the Experts: A Virtual Round-Table Discussion for Plan Sponsors
- Event
04.06.2020
WEBCAST | Cares Act Overview
- Event
04.02.2020
Webcast | Update on COVID-19: Navigating the Coronavirus and Managing the Impact
- Event
03.30.2020
WEBCAST | Employee Benefits & 401K Compliance During The Coronavirus Outbreak
- Blog
03.30.2020
CARES Act Provisions Expand Retirement Plan Access for Individuals Impacted by COVID-19
- Blog
03.27.2020
FFCRA Employee Rights Poster Notification Poster Available
- Event
03.26.2020
WEBCAST | COVID-19: Navigating Insurance Implications
- Blog
03.26.2020
Client Advisory: Private Company Directors and Officers, Employment Practices Concerns: COVID-19
- Event
03.25.2020
Webinar | The Investment Implications of COVID-19
- Event
03.24.2020
Webinar | Navigating the Coronavirus and Managing the Impact
- Blog
03.24.2020
DOT Guidance on Drug & Alcohol Testing
- Blog
03.24.2020
MMA COVID-19 Coverage 2020
- Event
03.12.2020
Webinar | The Power of Food
- Blog
03.03.2020
Preparing your Business for Coronavirus: Access Resources Here
- Blog
02.06.2020
AD&D: What Employers and Employees Need to Know
- Event
01.23.2020
Seminar | Employment Law Landscape 2020
- Blog
01.16.2020
Employee Health & Benefits 2020 and Beyond
- Event
12.19.2019
Webinar | Year End Checklist and Future Forecast
- Blog
12.09.2019
Employee Benefits and Perks – Life Science Industry Raises The Bar
- Blog
12.05.2019
Financial Wellness
- Blog
12.03.2019
Building the Foundation for a Successful Implementation
- Event
11.21.2019
Webinar | ACA Reporting Requirements
- Blog
11.05.2019
Before the Turn of the Decade: Important Reminders Regarding Employee Benefits
- Event
10.17.2019
Webinar | Health Savings Accounts
- Blog
10.07.2019
4 Ways to Improve Open Enrollment
- Event
09.19.2019
Webinar | New HRA Options
- Event
09.12.2019
Webinar | New Developments with HRAs and 2020
- Blog
09.10.2019
5 Employee Wellness Initiatives That Work
- Event
08.15.2019
Webinar | Association Health Plans
- Blog
08.02.2019
Podcast | Choosing Your Broker
- Blog
08.01.2019
Wearable Health Care Technology: Fashion Fad or the Future?
- Event
07.18.2019
Webinar | Annual Required Notices 2019
- News
06.21.2019
MMA Midwest Named Second Largest Dayton-Area Employee Benefits Company
- Event
06.20.2019
Webinar | Mid-Year Compliance Review
- Blog
06.20.2019
A New Era of Employee-Centric Work Perks
- Event
05.29.2019
Seminar | Pharmacy - Everyone's talking about it, but what can I do?
- Event
05.16.2019
Webinar | Wellness Programs
- Blog
04.26.2019
Massachusetts Releases New Guidance and Employee Notice Template For Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)
- Event
04.25.2019
Webinar | Total Worker Health
- Event
04.18.2019
Webinar | HIPAA Privacy & Security Training
- Blog
04.11.2019
Approaching Healthcare Benefits Strategically
- Blog
04.11.2019
April is National Wellness Month
- Event
03.21.2019
Webinar | Federal Continuation Coverage
- Blog
03.15.2019
Five Ways Employee Benefits Are Advantageous for Smaller Businesses
- Event
02.21.2019
Webinar | FMLA & Employee Benefits
- Event
01.29.2019
Employment Law Landscape 2019
- Event
01.17.2019
Webinar: ACA Reporting Requirements
- Blog
01.16.2019
Understanding the Changes to Minnesota’s Whistleblower Act
- Blog
01.10.2019
2019: What to Expect in Employee Health & Benefits
- Event
12.20.2018
Webinar | 2018 Year in Review & Future Benefits Forecast
- Blog
12.20.2018
Making a List and Checking It Twice
- Event
12.14.2018
Webinar | Q4 2018 Health Care Reform Update
- Blog
12.12.2018
Can Telemedicine Make Health Care Benefits Healthier?
- Blog
12.03.2018
Employment Law Update: Minimum Wage Keeps Climbing
- News
11.29.2018
Engaging Your Employees Requires Your Own Engagement
- Blog
11.29.2018
IRS Increase Health FSA Contribution Limit for 2019 & Adjusts Other Benefit Limits
- Event
11.20.2018
Webinar | Back to Basics: Consumer-Based Plans 101
- Blog
11.08.2018
Four Steps Employers Can Take to Help Alleviate the Opioid Crisis
- Blog
11.02.2018
Build a Positive Workplace Culture That Promotes Honest Communication
- Blog
11.02.2018
Compliance Update: HRAs Poised For a Facelift
- Blog
10.25.2018
The Impact of Stress in the Workplace
- Event
10.18.2018
Webinar | Annual Required Notices
- Event
10.12.2018
Webinar | Q3 2018 Health Care Reform Update
- Blog
10.09.2018
IRS Releases Final 2018 ACA Reporting Forms and Instructions
- Blog
10.05.2018
What are the Government's Plans to Solve the Opioid Problem?
- Event
09.18.2018
The Opioid Epidemic: A Public Health Crisis
- Blog
09.17.2018
Is Marijuana the Answer to the Opioid Addiction Problem?
- Blog
09.12.2018
Compliance Update: Medical Loss Ratio Rebates Under the Affordable Care Act
- Blog
09.11.2018
2018 Stop-Loss Survey
- Event
09.06.2018
Webinar | Association Health Plans
- Blog
09.06.2018
Rule #1 For Effective Open Enrollment: Start Early
- Blog
08.21.2018
Tobacco: Still Affecting Businesses’ Financial Health
- Blog
08.17.2018
Open Enrollment: Ways to Control Costs
- Event
08.16.2018
Webinar | Surviving a DOL Audit
- Blog
08.07.2018
Open Enrollment: The Benefits of Smarter Communications
- Blog
08.06.2018
The Opioid Crisis: Using Alternative Approaches to Manage Pain
- Blog
07.25.2018
Is An EAP Worth The Investment?
- Blog
06.29.2018
The DOL's New Association Health Plan Rules and What They Actually Mean
- Event
06.21.2018
Webinar | 2018 Mid-Year Compliance Update
- Blog
05.30.2018
The Opioid Crisis: A Serious Societal and Business Issue
- Blog
12.27.2017
Employee Benefits in 2018
- Blog
10.13.2017
Telemedicine and HSAs
- Blog
10.06.2017
Data Breach Risks During Annual Enrollment
- Blog
09.26.2017
Annual Enrollment
- Event
03.14.2017
The Future of Health Care & Employee Benefits