Virtual Wellness: Ensuring Health for Remote Professionals
Remote work undeniably offers a wide range of benefits, from the convenience of joining meetings in your pajamas to the absence of the daily commute. However, it also has a serious downside that employers shouldn’t overlook: its potential impact on employee wellness.
Not only has there been a decline in physical fitness due to limited opportunities for movement, but it has also taken a toll on remote workers’ mental health. Fortunately, it is possible to ensure both the physical and mental wellness of your employees despite the distance. We’ve put together a few effective strategies to help you support your team, wherever they are in the world.
6 Strategies to Support the Wellness of Remote Teams
Crafting a wellness program will allow you to support your employees’ physical and mental health remotely, while maintaining maximum productivity. Explore these six strategies to boost the mental and physical well-being of your team members today:
1. Set an Example for Maintaining Work-Life Balance
While some people do find virtual work better for work-life balance, the reality is that many employees struggle to blur the line between their 9-to-5 and personal lives. In fact, a survey by Ergotron found that forty percent of professionals are now working longer hours than before.
As the boss, you should strive to set an example for your entire company, demonstrating your commitment to work-life balance. Refrain from responding to emails over the weekend, scheduling meetings well into the evening, and answering work-related calls outside of regular hours. By showing that you value your life outside of work, you encourage others to follow suit, creating a culture that’s supportive of everyone’s well-being.
2. Offer Wellness Benefits
If your team isn’t required to pop into the office a few times a week, they may be missing out on various benefits, particularly those geared toward wellness—on-site gyms, free healthy food, yoga classes, etc.
To foster your virtual team’s well-being, consider substituting in-office perks for ones of equal value. For instance, you could offer free gym memberships to support their fitness goals, or discounted meal plans to help them eat healthily. Meeting your team’s wellness needs through these benefits not only contributes to retention in remote settings, but also leads to sustained levels of productivity.
3. Encourage Employees to Take Breaks
A study revealed that six in ten people feel guilty when taking breaks while working remotely. Constantly worried about their productivity levels, they find themselves in “work mode” at all times. Unfortunately, this excessive commitment to work can actually be counterproductive, potentially causing burnout.
To guarantee your virtual team’s well-being, permit them to take breaks throughout the day, whether it’s to brew a cup of coffee or go for a run around the block. For example, you could allow them to change their status on your communication platform to something along the lines of “taking a break—be back by 3 PM” whenever they need a breather. Alternatively, you could set a specific time during the day as the mandatory break, giving your teams a chance to recharge and come back refreshed.
4. Conduct Virtual One-on-Ones
Opening up about the impact of work on their mental well-being can be a challenge for many employees. Unfortunately, remote work’s lack of open communication has made it more difficult for employers to gauge how employees are doing.
Even if your employees aren’t showing signs of poor mental health—such as low productivity and withdrawal—it remains crucial to reach out. One-on-one meetings are not only a platform for employees to voice out their concerns, but also for you to uncover problems that might have gone unnoticed.
Schedule a call at their convenience, and listen attentively to unravel the factors influencing their current mental state. By doing so, you can work together to identify long-term solutions and showcase your genuine concern for their well-being.
5. Promote Social Interaction
Despite the advantages of remote work, it can be an isolating experience for many professionals. Sixty-one percent of employees report feelings of loneliness arising from their setups, putting them at risk of issues like depression.
To safeguard your employees’ well-being, it’s crucial to encourage social interaction through group activities, such as virtual team-building sessions and game nights. Additionally, consider creating employee-only channels on collaboration platforms like Slack and Discord. Serving as virtual water coolers, these spaces provide employees with the opportunity to discuss various topics, support one another, and even plan in-person gatherings.
By facilitating social interaction, you not only contribute to boosting each person’s mental health, but also cultivate a sense of community despite the distance.
6. Organize Virtual Fitness Activities
In a traditional work setup, employees can naturally incorporate physical activity into their day—commuting, walking up the stairs, etc. However, due to remote work’s sedentary lifestyle, many professionals are now seeing a decline in physical health, putting them at risk of issues like heart disease. This is a serious concern for employers, as compromised physical health may result in less productivity.
Fortunately, even with a fully remote setup, you can actively play a role in preserving your team’s physical health. Provide your teams with access to online workouts, yoga classes, and more, motivating them to stay committed to their wellness goals. Alternatively, you may implement a reward system for good health habits (e.g., reaching daily step counts) for friendly competition.
Through these virtual activities, you can ensure that your employees not only maintain optimal fitness but also bond with their colleagues. This serves a dual purpose of promoting both physical and mental wellness.
