You may think that all the enhanced efforts to communicate and collaborate during the pandemic held your team together. In fact, it may have helped tear it apart. According to a recent study, during the pandemic:
- Weekly team meetings increased by 252%.
- 6 billion more emails were sent.
- The average after-hours work increased by 28%.
On top of all that, last year alone 4 in 10 adults reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorders, up from 1 in 10 in 2019.
To meet the needs of workers moving forward, employers need to consider a few key steps:
- Create a safe space to have open discussions about mental health.
- Model and practice empathy consistently.
- Encourage a work-life balance among workers and managers alike.
- Focus on more personalized communication; resist bombarding workers with information.
- Use feedback to make changes that meet new employee expectations.
- Look at ways to implement work flexibility, such as a four-day workweek.
- Demonstrate positive change through actions and behaviors, not just words.
