“Perseverance in the face of adversity” seemed to be the inherent theme of 2020 for employers and employees alike. Workers were abruptly forced to depart from their routine office spaces – which long fostered environments of inspiration and collaboration – to the confinement of their homes. Working parents learned to juggle homeschooling and childcare with work, and many professionals logged significantly more hours on the job than they had pre-pandemic. Despite the many challenges that Covid-19 brought upon the workforce, many companies still managed to operate successfully – in large part thanks to the resilience of their people.
However, the combination of isolation and anxiety that many have experienced in the past year, and are still experiencing, has brought on a second public health crisis running parallel with the pandemic: a pronounced decline in mental health. There is no shortage of reporting on this issue; a January 4th article from CNN called mental health as “one of the biggest pandemic issues we’ll face in 2021.” While the recent progress in vaccine distribution has given our country a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel, the road that lies ahead is still long and winding. And of course, there is no vaccine for anxiety, depression, PTS, and increased suicidality…the “second wave” of the pandemic.
The success of a workplace stems from the hard-working people behind it, and in 2021, it is more important than ever to keep a close eye on the emotional and cognitive behaviors and needs of employees. Here are four trends to watch.
1. Remaining remote
As vaccination distribution continues in the coming months, some employees may be eager to return to their normal routine at the office. However, due to legislative, medical or personal reasons, re-entering the office may not be an immediate reality for some employees this year.
In light of this, it is important for employers to continue to invest time and resources towards enhancing company culture and collaboration on a virtual level, reassuring employees that they do not need to be physically present in the office to feel a sense of belonging. This also signals acceptance and flexibility for those who might feel more productive in a work-from-home environment or who might not be personally comfortable with the risks of returning to a common workspace.
2. Welcoming the new generation of workers
In 2021, it will be important for company leaders to invest in strategies for a structured and engaging virtual onboarding experience. In 2020, Gen Z made up nearly a quarter of the workforce, and virtual onboarding is becoming the new norm. Strong mentorship tactics need to be implemented to help new team members feel a sense of belonging. The inability to be in-person with colleagues is difficult for anyone trying to integrate into a team, and even more difficult for those that are new to the workforce. Strong mentorship of young workers during this critical time will help foster future leaders.
3. Emphasizing work-life balance
In the past year, working remotely has required a degree of flexibility from employers that was not as widely accepted prior to Covid-19. As workers were forced to take care of their children due to school shutdowns, cope with unimaginable losses of friends and family members, or fight to recover from the virus themselves, companies had no choice but to allow for more flexibility in working hours and personal time off. Many consider this one of the ‘silver linings’ of the pandemic – and it has been particularly helpful for caregivers.
4. Aligning values
Covid-19 was not the only factor driving mental health crises across the U.S. in the past year. Major political unrest also took center stage, with movements sparking across the country to combat social justice issues, including voting rights and racial injustice. Increasingly in 2021, employees will continue to seek alignment of values with their employer and may demand action in creating safe spaces or concretely augmenting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
The events of 2020, now behind us, have forever reshaped the workplace. Looking ahead to 2021, employers need to continue to be agile and adjust to the needs of employees to ensure that they can maintain resilience and persevere through what will likely be another challenging year. Employers must consider how they can prevent cases and reduce the factors leading to depression, anxiety and other mental health issues, just as they seek to prevent cases of Covid-19.
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January 13, 2021 at 09:00PM
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Understanding Employee Behavior: A 2021 Resolution For Employers - Forbes
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