HR in action: Tackling zoom fatigue in your workforce

Surely talking to someone on a screen is not that different from talking to them in an office or meeting room? Actually, it is – and there’s been much discussion about zoom fatigue in recent months. The answers are found in the practicalities of a video call. Firstly, a close up gaze makes us feel uncomfortable – we would normally have much more distance between us in a physical meeting, especially with work colleagues. Secondly, even when the technology and the connection are good, there can still be a slight time delay in the interaction, and research shows us that we tend to perceive this as a negative response, even if it’s not. Next, a video call means we do have to concentrate more to ‘read’ the responses of others, listening closely not just to what they are saying, but also to pick up on non-verbal a such as facial expressions and body language which are harder to assess on a screen. Finally, we are often looking at ourselves on-screen too which can be unnerving and distracting as we worry about how we look and come across. There’s definitely a lot going on at once – which is why it’s all so tiring.

 

As well as the video call itself, it’s also important to consider the volume undertaken. Some employees may find large swathes of their day filled with group calls or one-to-ones which can be exhausting. Add to this the fact that family interactions, socials with friends, even medical appointments are also frequently being conducted via video call. And because everything is happening in our home space, it creates the discomfort of video call overload plus a lack of separation between work and home interactions. It’s a heady mix.

 

What can HR do to help?

One of the first and most important actions HR can take is to communicate with employees and make sure that they understand that they are not alone. It’s actually very common (and perfectly normal) to feel tired and fed up with video calls. Offer reassurance that the business understands the pressures they are feeling and is supportive of them taking action to combat the problem. Of course, reaching out to the entire workforce in this way is much easier of you have HR software in place with a communications module.

 

Your 4-point action plan to combat zoom fatigue

 

• Encourage managers and project leaders to use alternatives to a video call where possible. This could mean using collaboration tools to share comments and work together on documents for example. A live chat system could also be helpful and feel less intrusive. Another alternative might simply mean reverting to a phone call instead.
  
  
• Encourage individual employees to build in mini-breaks during their working day which creates separation between the video calls which are It’s not good for health and wellbeing to be on screen all the time, so building in alternative work activities or even short exercise or tea breaks can help relieve the symptoms of zoom fatigue and improve productivity overall.
  
  
• Whether to appear on screen or not should be a personal choice. Encourage employees to take control and opt for having their personal camera off if they feel more comfortable doing so. Managers should also be advised that this is company policy and they should not direct employees to have the camera on.
  
  
• Issue company-wide guidelines on how to conduct a video call effectively. Too many people, a lack of agenda, no official finish time – in the past, all of these meant unproductive face-to-face meetings; now they are a recipe for unproductive video calls too.

 

Ultimately, HR is well-placed to offer guidance to help all employees work better and overcome the problem of zoom fatigue. In the current climate, support from HR certainly needs to be visible and proactive, helping employees to feel more connected with the business and their colleagues.

 

Don’t forget that Access can help you with choosing and implementing the right HR software and tools to help you run your team and engage with your workforce more effectively.  

 

And for even more HR driven ideas in the ‘new normal’, download our FREE guide - Workplace science: Why consistency equals success in HR and L&D. It’s packed with plenty of thought-provoking suggestions and action points on everything from employee centricity and engagement to personalised HR interactions.