Post-lockdown anxiety and the world of work
Throughout 2021 many of us have been wondering how the Government will lift us out of lockdown and allow us to return to some form of social normality. For many, the Government Roadmap has been welcomed, as it has provided milestones to work towards. For others, it has left them feeling anxious. A recent Access Group poll indicated that 70% of people are feeling some form of anxiety about their post-lockdown future.
This is important for employers to understand.
1 in 4 people experience mental ill health each year and at any given time, 1 in 6 working-age adults have symptoms associated with mental ill health. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) suggest 17.9 million working days were lost in 2019/2020 due to work-related stress, depression, or anxiety accounting for 51% of all worked-related ill health. A study conducted in 2020 by the Office of National Statistics found that 49.6% of people in Great Britain reported ‘high’ anxiety which equates to 25 million people aged over 16. It is estimated the overall cost of mental ill health is as high as £105 billion each year.
As we’ve begun to see restrictions lifted, many people will have concerns, particularly related to their work-life situation. Many of these concerns can lead to anxious thoughts:
- What do I want from my life now?
- Do any of my colleagues have the virus?
- Will they give it to me?
- What should I do if I’m feeling anxious?
- Are those around me vaccinated?
Having support tools at our disposal will help us to navigate any feelings of anxiety and help support employees through times of change. Tools include:
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Providing employees with the opportunity to learn more about their anxiety
Helping your employees to help themselves with the self-directed study will help them to identify their own coping mechanisms and also support others. Our learning module ‘Coping with Transition and Post-Lockdown’ is a great tool to help guide employers and employees to identify and address any feelings or concerns they have whilst adjusting. -
Recognise that anxiety is a valid reason for taking time away from the business.
It’s important to remember that someone who is struggling with their anxiety may only need a short time away so the flexibility of working hours can be greatly appreciated. You might want to consider asking an employee if it will help to start their day later or finish earlier. Review your absence management systems, policies and procedures. Check that your processes are straightforward to understand and engage with and take a pro absence to stand on people taking time away. -
Provide a safe space
This might include having wellbeing rooms in place, morning team huddles, reminding colleagues of services such as the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and online digital learning content. If your employees are going to be in environments in which they’ve not been for the last 2 years think about what might make them anxious and plan ahead as to how you can work around those environments. -
Talk to your employees
It is important to understand whether you can help remove the barriers which are adding to an individual’s anxiety, whether that’s their working environment, finances, or wellbeing. Talk to your people and make them aware of anything that might help them, for example, flexible working requests, Early Pay salary drawdown, and wellbeing initiatives. -
But don’t try and ‘fix’ them
Anxiety is not a problem to ‘fix’ or solve. Whilst it may be well-intentioned, offering up unsolicited advice isn’t going to help and might even make things worse. If your employee is willing to talk about how they are feeling, ask questions to try and understand, not to resolve. And don’t rush them. Allowing them to take the time they need to open and share can help reduce and tension or feelings of anxiety.
Change can be difficult for us all but it’s important to remember that each person’s experience will be different and that is okay. Considering how others are feeling shows empathy and if we live in a society where we have more empathy towards each other then we will work towards creating a society that cares.
Learn how to offer support to someone else, and learn how to calm feelings of anxiety with our Mental Health and Wellbeing courses.
