Returning to work image after covid showing office space with one worker working at desk

Creating a safe space at work for your employees goes beyond hygiene and infection control.

There are mixed emotions surrounding the return to workplaces following months of working from home or being furloughed and emotions may be running high in the workplace.

While you may have put in the necessary steps to enable social distancing and hygiene control measure, have you also considered the higher levels of stress that may be returning to the workplace?

Some of your colleagues will have been juggling working from home while caring for loved ones with home-schooling. While others may have experienced bereavement, loneliness from isolation and financial difficulties.

To support good mental health in the workplace, here are top tips from NLT’s mental health experts to assist managers with staff returning to work after lockdown.

1. Take it Steady

Most workers have been living in a much slower world since lockdown began. To rush back into busy jobs and jam-packed schedules may prove too much all at once. Try to allow a gradual reintroduction of previous working patterns and workloads. It may take time for them to readjust.

2. Signpost

As an employer, it’s important to be prepared to support staff in any problems they might face when trying to do their job. The answer may not always be obvious but what’s more important is that resources are readily available to support those returning to work, that they know about them, and how to access them. Some may simply need reassurance, others might need a more long-term plan in place to help.

This may involve a GP, or an occupational health professional, alongside leading charities supporting mental health. The NHS have created a list of mental health helplines in the case of an emergency. There are many services across the UK dedicated to supporting mental wellbeing. If you don’t have the resources on-site, know where to find them.

3. Be alert

Is someone acting out-of-character? Check in on colleagues to see if there’s anything you can do to help them readjust to working life. Look out for anything that may suggest an employee is struggling with their mental health. Know the signs and make yourself available and approachable. A simple ‘how are you?’ can go a long way.

4. Make time

Try to be an active listener who pencils in time to hear from their team. Many will have struggled throughout lockdown with trying to maintain good mental health. By having those conversations early on you have the opportunity to address any worries or problems that may make it difficult for staff to do their job and stay healthy.

5. Provide training

Make sure managers have access to relevant training to be able to support mental health in the workplace. It is a difficult subject and takes time to understand how best to help.

NLT has existing programmes on First Aid for Mental Health (Level 2 and Level 3). Our one-day NUCO-accredited courses are designed to help staff aware of mental health difficulties and create a positive mental health culture in your workplace.

For further help and support online, the Mental Health Foundation has created an in-depth resource on how to support mental health at work, which you can find it here. Be sure to also check out their ‘employer checklist for creating mentally healthy workplaces’.

To find out more about our First Aid for Mental Health Level 2 and First Aid for Mental Health Level 3 courses, please contact 0333 880 3540.

To view NLT’s full range of Health and Safety courses, including our e-learning course for the safe re-opening of offices amidst COVID-19, please click here.