One thing is for sure: life after COVID-19 won’t ever be quite the same again. We investigate some of the positive wellbeing possibilities for UK companies.
Witnessing the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on people, businesses and entire countries, it’s hard to believe we won’t come out the other side looking at the world differently. At its core COVID-19 is an issue of people, health and risk – and from a business perspective the impact of health has never been in sharper focus.
Whilst we are far from being out the other side, we can use this time to reflect on learnings from this pandemic and how it may forever change the way businesses approach the health and wellbeing of their most important asset, their people.
#1 Health and wellbeing will become a C-Suite priority
Through COVID-19 business leaders are seeing first-hand how health impacts work, and whilst the current situation is greater than any individual business, this should create a far greater awareness amongst the C-Suite of the business imperative to be better prepared and act on preventable ill-health.
#2 Businesses will take a more flexible approach to work location
Making the most of the benefits that remote working can bring without losing the invaluable person-to person time from the workplace will be a balance that needs to be struck. There will likely be a continued shift in mindset from homeworking being a ‘perk’ to a more realistic option.
#3 More businesses will be talking about Mental Health
For some employers this will have been the first time they have thought strategically about mental health and what the business can do to better support its people. Whilst there is still a long way to go, hopefully through COVID-19 many more doors have been opened and more employers have made a start on this vitally important journey.
#4 More tech-based wellbeing solutions will be made available to employees
The popularity of online wellbeing solutions has shown there is a strong place for engaging people in their wellbeing through tech. Whilst not suggesting in-person wellbeing will (or should) be replaced, we expect that more employers will broaden the appeal of their health and wellbeing programmes by including online wellbeing solutions.
#5 More of us will realise that lifestyle matters
COVID-19 may change the way people respond to discussions about preventative measures, increase up-take of flu vaccination programmes, and create a dialogue around ways to boost our immune systems to combat illness. Interestingly, advice to boost immunity is largely like the advice to improve our general wellbeing – eat a healthy diet, get enough exercise, drink alcohol in moderation, don’t smoke, reduce stress and get enough quality sleep. So, for many employers it’s not necessarily about launching new initiatives, but about expanding on the benefits of the existing wellbeing offering.
#6 We will take prevention and our immune systems seriously
A greater number of employers accessing expert medical advice can only be a positive for the health of UK plc.
#7 Social connection will rise up the agenda
With a greater appreciation of the impact of loneliness, we now have a unique opportunity to make the workplace force for good by raising the profile of social connection and building this important issue into the fabric of our health and wellbeing strategies.
#8 A greater focus on the Line Manager’s role
Moving forward we may see a greater focus on the line manager’s role in managing challenging situations and supporting the health of their teams – and to do this effectively they will require better training and support to ensure they have the tools and skills to do their role to the best of their ability.
#9 Employers will improve sickness absence recording
The importance of timely and accurate absence records has no doubt been validated by COVID-19. We may as a result see a greater focus on updating, communicating and enforcing internal policies and procedures.
#10 A wider range of stakeholders will come together
In most businesses COVID-19 has brought varied stakeholders together out of need, some for the first time. What may have been prompted by a single event may become a more regular occurrence and more common practice – and that is no bad thing for the advancement of wellbeing in the workplace.
For more advice on your COVID-19 employee wellbeing concerns, email our panel of specialists at [email protected]