For many, the run up to the festive season is usually one of excitement. The prospects of staff parties, socialising, and time spent with family is something most look forward to. However, the Covid-19 pandemic promises to cast a shadow over already darker days, which means that employers should take extra special care to ensure that their employees are feeling mentally well.  

In 2017, HR Magazine reported that more than two in five workers (44% of the workforce) felt that winter had a negative effect on their mental wellbeing. Additionally, 35% of those asked described themselves as suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Also known as the ‘winter blues’, SAD has been attributed to the effects of getting up and returning home in the dark. If we combine this with the mental health issues that could potentially result from a second lockdown or further social distancing measures, it becomes pretty clear that a number of staff will not be ok this winter. So, what can managers and employers do to ensure that their teams maintain their mental health? 

Communication 

We say this every time we write about mental health in the workplace, open lines of communication in all workplaces. Letting your team know that you’re happy to listen, either formally or informally, to any worries or concerns they may have, helps to ease anxiety and stress. Sometimes, just knowing that there is a place to openly speak can reduce stress levels without the need to actually use it. 

For teams who are still remote working, it’s also vital to remember that being away from the usual bustle of an office can be very isolated and can result in feelings of loneliness. Speaking to a remote worker last week, they explained that with their partner commuting and at work all day, they would sometimes spend twelve hours a day without speaking to anyone. Keep in touch with the people who you don’t see every day. It’s important to remember that a workplace isn’t just a place to work, it’s a place where people chat about their weekends, the latest box set they saw, and how their kids are doing at school. So, if someone is working remotely, they’ll miss all that.  

Prepare to be flexible 

Winter is also known as cold and flu season. We’ve all seen the adverts warning us to sneeze into a handkerchief. This winter we have the added worry of the Covid-19 pandemic, mask wearing, and anxiety about getting ill or making others ill.  

If you have staff who commute by public transport, have a chat with them to check that they are still ok with that commute. If they aren’t or are worried about their safety or the safety of family members, consider different options that might ease their anxiety. Could they start and finish later meaning that they wouldn’t be on public transport at busy times? Is there an option for remote working?  

Enjoy the sunlight 

As we mentioned earlier, Seasonal Affective Disorder has been attributed to leaving and returning home in the dark. Encouraging team members to go out for a walk on their breaks, not only allows them to enjoy some sunlight, but also enables them to have some real downtime away from their day to day tasks.  

Find a way to celebrate still 

It’s been a tough year and, while we may not be able to have festive parties in December, it’s still possible to remind staff how proud you are of their hard work. So, while you can relax at the idea that there won’t be any HR issues at the Christmas work party (because there probably won’t be one), have a think about how you can still make your team feel valued. Can they still do a Secret Santa (we heard of one business that encouraged staff to buy something off someone’s Amazon wish list)? Could you finish off a year of Zoom calls with virtual drinks and a nice cocktail delivered to every staff member?  

Take it as an opportunity to be a bit creative.  

Finally… 

As an employer or manager, you’ve also had undoubted stress this year, and the prospect of a winter with a pandemic could be daunting. Make sure that you also have someone to speak to if you are feeling stressed, anxious, or low.  

The team at Dakota Blue are always available to help you with HR queries or policy questions. So feel free to get in touch.