The Mental Health Challenge for Hybrid and Remote Businesses

Mental health is a critical issue that affects individuals and society, that impacts work culture, productivity, and business outcomes.
The World Health Organizations reports 12 billion working days are lost due to depression and anxiety.
Poor mental health awareness within your business can lead to:

• Low team productivity.
• Increased employee churn.
• Reduced employee engagement.

As the world becomes increasingly fast-paced and stressful, it’s essential to pay attention to mental health at work.

Workplace culture and working remotely are key factors that impact mental health, and it’s important to strike a balance for a healthy work environment.

In this article, we’ll discuss the challenges and tradeoffs in balancing different factors and how business decisions can impact mental health at work, and how Jugo is helping to lead the way in breaking down barriers between office and remote workers through its virtual events platform.

Why is workplace culture so critical for mental health at work?

Workplace culture is a critical factor that affects mental health.
A positive culture can create an environment where employees feel supported and valued, leading to better mental health outcomes. On the other hand, a negative culture can lead to:

• Stress
• Burnout, and
• Poor mental health

Some of the key elements of a positive workplace culture include:

1. Clear communication: Open and honest communication is essential in creating a positive culture. When employees feel they can speak freely with their supervisors and colleagues, they are more likely to feel supported and valued.

2. Recognition and feedback: Employees need to feel that their work is valued and that they are making a difference. Regular feedback and recognition for their efforts can help boost morale and reduce stress.

3. Work-life balance: It’s essential to create an environment that allows employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Encouraging breaks and vacations, avoiding overworking, and supporting flexible schedules can all contribute to a healthy work-life balance.

4. Social support: Encouraging social connections among employees can help build a positive workplace culture. This can include team-building exercises, social events, and encouraging communication and collaboration.

While creating a positive workplace culture is essential, it’s not always easy. Organizations need to strike a balance between meeting business goals and creating a healthy work environment.

Purpose is also central to employee wellbeing. Without purpose, it can be difficult for employees to feel fulfilled in their roles. Fulfillment is a long-lasting, internal sense of wholeness and it can give employees a greater life meaning.

If you notice a lull in your teams, reenergize your employees and connect them back to your business – it might not be the full answer to their troubles, but it can help.

Additionally, different employees may have different needs, especially in remote and hybrid environments, so it’s important to be flexible and adaptable.

What has been the impact of remote work on Mental Health?

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in remote work with 43% of the American population now working from home at-least part time.

While of working remotely has many benefits, it can also have an impact on mental health. Some key challenges associated with remote work include:

5. Social isolation: Remote work can lead to social isolation, which can negatively impact mental health. Employees may feel disconnected from their colleagues and may miss the social interactions that come with working in an office.

6. Lack of boundaries: When working from home, it can be challenging to set boundaries between work and personal life. This can lead to overworking and burnout.

7. Technology fatigue: Constant connection to technology can lead to fatigue and stress. Employees may feel pressure to be available 24/7, which can negatively impact their mental health.

8. Reduced supervision: When working remotely, employees may have less supervision, which can lead to feelings of isolation and uncertainty.

To mitigate these challenges, businesses and leaders need to create policies and procedures that support remote work.

How to support remote work:

• Implement immersive technology that enhances human connection and reduces social isolation.
• Provide powerful collaboration tools that your teams can easily collaborate with and boosts trust between employees and executives.
• Implement virtual experience platforms that enables your teams to feel empowered making decisions and setting boundaries.