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Remote Working

Work-Life Balance

Managing Remote Working During Covid-19

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many companies to quickly adopt remote working as part of their business continuity plan. As a result, millions of employees are now working from home. While some, who are already on some form of flexible working arrangements, are able to quickly adapt to the situation, others are finding it harder to work in a virtual environment. As a result, companies should not only be more lenient towards their employees in these times of change, but also provide all the necessary support to assist them in fulfilling their job responsibilities.

Flexible working provides employees an opportunity to have a better work-life balance. With a healthy work-life balance, employees are more productive and more willing to provide their discretionary efforts in completing tasks. Having a positive balance also relieves stress and anxiety from the daily work routine. Moreover, a good work-life improves the mental health and wellbeing of employees. Working from home is a great opportunity to change the environment and provides employees the flexibility to have their own work schedules. In the end, a healthy workforce is a more productive workforce. And that is what is the main competitive advantage of companies.

"Flexible working provides employees an opportunity to have a better work-life balance."

With the COVID-19 crisis, companies have activated their business continuity plans by sending their workers to work from home. Remote working has been indeed critical to keep companies operational, while keeping their staff healthy. However, prolonged remote working and social isolation by being confined at home can create feelings of solitude. In extreme cases, the mental health as well as productivity of employees are greatly impacted, when they feel isolated, secluded and even abandoned.

Therefore business leaders need to double their efforts in reaching out to their employees and constantly assess the state of their workforce. For managers, they need to reach out regularly to their remote team members to not only ensure that they do not feel left out, but also provide constant feedback about their work progress. As for employees, being on a long term remote working environment can be daunting. Hence they need to also virtually reach out to their peers, managers and bosses. Like in a physical office environment, social interactions must be encouraged, even if it is now virtually. Creating an environment of solidarity, sharing and collaboration will enable companies to keep their momentum and avoid any of their team members from suffering alone and burning out.

With the coronavirus pandemic, the adoption of remote working has been practically de rigueur for any business continuity plans. However, the prolonged COVID-19 crisis is putting to the test any business leaders to balance the thin line between their numerous business challenges and the expectations of their workforce. On the one hand, not only business leaders face major disruptions in their daily operations as well as their supply chains, but they also face major financing needs for their increasing costs and massive decline in revenue.

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Navigating through the coronavirus pandemic, business leaders will need compassion, empathy and sympathy in dealing with their employees. These are the skills of good leaders who are self aware. Despite their daily pressures, they are curious to know what is really happening and take time to listen hard to their employees. Doing so helps them to not only better understand the situation on the ground, but also design better solutions to issues, together with their team members. They are not 'weak' leaders and can be assertive when required. They are servant leaders who find mutually beneficial solutions, that are aligned towards the main business objectives.

Fast and furious changes have been brought about by the COVID19 coronavirus. With sudden decisions to lock down whole countries and eventually the world, all governments and businesses have been struggling to cope with the dramatic changes. To stop the rapid spread of the viral infection and without warning, all employees have even been asked to stay at home, and if possible, work remotely.

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The unplanned and abrupt changes, coupled with the fact that employees find themselves suddenly confined at home, isolated from their colleagues and even prevented from having regular physical interactions, are putting enormous pressure of them. These are increasing their #stress and anxiety levels; thereby affecting their physical and mental wellbeing. If not managed properly, employees can fall in depression and eventually burnout, resulting in business operations severely impacted. Business leaders and their HR leaders should be aware of the situation and take the necessary action to alleviate the stress and anxiety level by constantly communicating and reaching out to their team members.

Remote working can make employees feel isolated and lonely. Moreover, with the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the many uncertainties about the future can have a severe impact on the employee's mental state.

The warning signs are when an employee
- is having mood swings, restless and irritable
- is constantly worrying and ruminating about problems
- feels overwhelmed, helpless or even hopeless

Other physical symptoms are chronic fatigue and insomnia. Not only these can seriously affect one's mental health, leading to anxiety disorder, panic attack and even depression, but one's physical health can also deteriorate, leading to chronic illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

It is therefore very important to maintain a balanced lifestyle and mental state. If you are experiencing some of these symptoms or know someone who does, please reach out and seek professional help from a doctor, psychologist or even a psychiatrist.

 

(Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. Please seek help from a professional for any treatment)

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