We are living in interesting times. As we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, you may notice some of your employees struggling with stress and/or anxiety.

Worry about an uncertain future, changes in financial income, home schooling children and an inability to visit some friends and loved ones that don’t live in the same household can disrupt our personal and professional lives.

To help your staff through these tumultuous times, here are 6 strategies you can follow:

  1. Communicate – Fear is heightened when there is a lack of communication. Let your employees know on a regular basis about any changes they should expect. Communicate with them even when there is no change. Knowledge is power.
  2. Empathize & Be Understanding – Whatever someone is going through, let them know you hear them and offer to help. Provide mental health resources if necessary. Encourage all staff to practice self care, talk to someone about what’s going on and even take an extra day off work to take care of themselves. Remember, some people are affected by this pandemic more than others.
  3. Share your Plan – Let your team know your plan, if you do have one. Employees will be wondering common questions, such as “What if I get sick?” or “What if I have to stay home with my child?” Put together an FAQ and distribute to all team members.
  4. Suggest limiting time reading/watching the News – Too much exposure to news sources can lead to heightened anxiety. Encourage everyone on your team to check the news  no more than twice a day (once in the morning, once at night), and for no longer than 20 minutes each time.
  5. Provide activities to help lower stress/anxiety – Programs like virtual yoga, meditation, fitness and wellness seminars can help employees to lower stress, calm anxiety, boost morale and give a sense of team connection, despite the physical disconnect. Consider providing your team with private “LIVE” group programs, which will have a major positive effect on their well being.
  6. Encourage getting out in Nature – When employees work from home, it can be easy to do nothing BUT work. Encourage all staff to take breaks throughout the day to get out in nature for a walk, brief stroll or even just to play with their kids in the back yard. They say sunshine is the cure for everything. When it’s raining and they can’t get out, suggest they take frequent breaks away from their desks and take the time to stretch, breathe, drink water, eat something, rest with their families or even take a nap.