Employee wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic

We recently had a call with an employer, keen to understand how their workforce was coping with the impact of Covid-19. Some of their employees had been furloughed, while others were working remotely. So how were these changes affecting their employees’ wellbeing? 

During the discussion, one of the free 45 minute calls we offer to organisations, we learnt that the employer wanted to gain more insight into what their employees were going through. However, they had a concern. What if employees asked for something that could not be provided; e.g. due to tight budgets? I reassured the employer that, by simply asking questions, they were showing how they cared about the wellbeing of employees. 

We then worked with the organisation to carry out a number of pulse surveys, asking employees about their general wellbeing, mental health, financial health and views on returning to the workplace. These results provided real insight into how they were feeling and coping during the lockdown period.

Regular communications were then sent to employees (including those who were furloughed). This included the promotion of existing resources, such as the Employee Assistance Programme (the use of which rose by 38% in one week), a reminder of the discounts and perks available, and signposting external resources, such as the Money and Mental Health service. 

These communications and surveys continue to be sent regularly, enabling the employer to gather and track employees’ views, and provide relevant updates. This helps the employer plan for the future (e.g. return to work processes) and demonstrates a commitment to the wellbeing of their workforce. 

If you would like to find out more about the topics coverered here, please get in touch with your usual Barnett Waddingham contact. Alternatively, please contact me below.