The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed life as we know it. The workforce has experienced dramatic changes as businesses rapidly transitioned to remote work, laid off employees, and, in many cases, shut down. The frequent adjustments resulting from the uncertainty of the pandemic have impacted workers lives in myriad ways.
Employees are vital to businesses. So, as people's lives change because of the pandemic, it is important to understand how it effects their emotional well-being and the impact on their work. But exactly how has COVID-19 affected employees' mental health? Employers are now tasked with answering this question.
How has COVID-19 affected employees' mental health?
Recognizing the challenges employees are experiencing due to COVID-19 and mitigating its effects of on mental health is now vital to companies' overall success and survival. Workers' emotional health can negatively impact their morale and performance. Knowing how COVID-19 effects mental health will enable employers to address the problem. A company is only as good as its people, so supporting workers most impacted by COVID will help the business to thrive during challenging times. Providing support for employees creates a win-win for both employees and employers.
As researchers begin to examine the effects of COVID-19 on mental health, the emergent findings are disconcerting. According to a June 8 to 14, 2020 Gallup Poll, employees and managers are 20% less likely than in May 2020 to “strongly agree” that they “feel well prepared to do their job” and that their company is concerned about their overall wellbeing.
Other studies have found a substantial percentage of employees consider this the most stressful time of their careers, with most experiencing moderate to extreme stress. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has released data suggesting between 22 to 35 percent of employees often experience symptoms of depression. Forty percent feel burned out, exhausted, and hopeless as they contend with the pandemic's disruption to their lives. These numbers indicate a significant problem for productivity and work performance.
Workers most impacted by COVID
Parents
The SHRM survey indicates that about 40 percent of parents, both working and teleworking, feel dissatisfied with work-family balance. Many parents who still go to the workplace struggle to find childcare with schools and daycares closed. They fear exposure to coronavirus in the workplace and potentially exposing their families and they worry about what to do if they or their child gets sick. Teleworking parents feel stressed about getting their work done while also caring for their children and supporting their schoolwork.
Parents in either situation are also dealing with general anxiety about the pandemic and its effects on their families. These issues increase stress, anxiety, and the risk of burnout and depression as employees are stretched too thin.
Medically at-risk employees or those with at-risk family members
Working during the pandemic may be especially concerning for those who are medically at-risk or in contact with someone who is. Many employees are experiencing heightened anxiety about contracting COVID-19. According to the SHRM survey, over half of the employees reported worrying about family often, and a third worry frequently about themselves. Exposure to others at work and on a public commute increases their risk and may impact such employees' ability or desire to go to work. Higher levels of anxiety and stress around health concerns also can affect their performance.
Pre-existing mental health disorders are aggravated by stress
For those employees who already struggling with mental health or substance abuse disorders, the effects of COVID-19 on mental health can be devastating. Anxiety and depression may be heightened by stress, worry, and isolation. Those with pre-existing mental health struggles find the absence of routine and structure and the increased uncertainty of these times particularly unnerving. Also, the usual social and medical supports are not as readily available to buffer their stress.
Employer support can help enhance workforce productivity during COVID-19
Despite indications that the number of employees experiencing emotional distress is rising, few are reaching out for help. Of the employees surveyed by the SHRM, only seven percent had reached out to a medical professional about depression-related symptoms. Thirty-seven percent reported not doing anything to cope with depressive symptoms.
The particular groups of workers most impacted by COVID may need additional support to do their jobs effectively. Employers who take into account the effects of COVID-19 on mental health will find they are in a better position to improve job performance and maintain employee morale. Offering employees resources to help them cope can lessen the impact on productivity and help retain employees through these challenging times.
