How is your workplace handling mental health during Covid?

[Lizzie523]

I'm curious as I don't feel supported at my workplace. And because my mother who works for a prominent uk company, received an internal guide and message of support explaining what was being put in place. Her company really takes mental health seriously.

Our workload has increased exponentially since the pandemic and this only continues. We are expected to go above and beyond more and more even though we are all flagging. I have a colleague she some customers who treat me with disrespect on a weekly basis.

I live alone and have been working from since March. I barely ever hear from my managers unless I seek them out. Never a 'how are things' from them.

My company have launched a 'wellness' campaign but in reality they don't care it's all a farce

Hahahaha I'm a teacher.

No real measures that are effective and an attitude of resignation from all. There's no such thing as SD for teachers in secondary.

Most of us now have gallows humour about it as a coping mechanism.

Lipservice but no real help.
For example yesterday they sent an email round saying how important it was to be able focus on your work but also be able to switch off at the end of the day, so helpfully recommend working a room that you don't use for relaxation or living, a spare bedroom is ideal apprently! Well who'd have thought it! But sadly I don't have a spare bedroom my DH wfh home in the lounge and I am wfh in our bedroom which isnt great and invades our relaxation space.

So most of us are screwed then basically? I really feel for teachers @GuyFawkesDay. I left teaching last year.

Our company said they are there for us but in reality don't seem to care much. I would be keen to see any info about companies that do seem to take it seriously. Other than the one I mentioned in my OP.

@Runnerduck34 oh fgs. I have mainly coped ok with working at the dining room table, but it has started to get to me that I can't really escape the space I am in.

I am now thinking about how I can feng shui different parts to my home to make them feel 'separate'. I also have had construction workers working in my street every day since June. It really is getting to me starting work with drilling outside every day.

Shockingly poorly. A ‘pull yourselves up by the bootstraps and pitch in and everything will be just peachy’ atitude, ignoring staff feedback, and leading to a nosedive in staff engagement and welbeing.

By piling more shit on us, quite frankly

They’re not! I work for a council and they’re not interested. Oh and they’ve announced that they’re having a restructuring and we should all just wait and see what happens and try to “keep busy”.

DH works for a huge company who have been amazing since day 1.

Shocking @Perro.

@LadyCatStark what has been amazing about your DH work's approach if you don't mind me asking?

I'm very interested in this in terms of understanding what people would want? I feel I'm running out of ideas and clearly there is a long way to go yet.

So far, we have:

• set up and funded an employee assistance programme that includes access to telephone or online counselling
• held regular (completely optional) online drop in socials/chats
• increased the support for line managers, to help them support their teams and handle sensitive conversations
• where possible, ensured that people with extra responsibilities (children, elderly parents etc) get extra flexibility
• surveyed everyone to get to know their preferences about remote or office working (some want to avoid travelling, some want to come in because they're overcrowded at home)
• if someone has gone quiet then they get a check in from someone who isn't their manager, so they have a separate opportunity to offload
• tried to increase our comms from directors, so people know what's going on in the company and wider industry

I am very open to ideas of what else would be helpful, especially as it's very hard to pick up on the small signs that people are struggling, if you don't see them in person very often.

Sounds great @MutteringDarkly. Do you work for quite a big company?

I think regular or at least semi regular 1 to 1s with my manager would be ideal. She has made it clear she doesnt really have the time and has apologised for 'neglecting' me but it still is what it is. And a 1 to 1 where they ask how things are and how the current set up is working or if it needs any adjustments. Had none of that.

This was easier when I saw my boss in the office but it just doesnt happen now.

Small company. Covid viewed as massive hassle. Md more miserable than usual.

I expect a lot of small firms will be the same or worse.

We don't hold with MH at my place.

All very 1990s

My work did not contact me once throughout the 6 month period I was on furlogh other than a monthly email which was identical each month and dates changed. No suggestions on how to keep on top of our mental health, just that they weren't making enough money! Even after I had a bit of a breakdown half way through and called for support they did nothing to show they cared and did not even call me back when we got cut off. Here I am now 29 weeks pregnant and just been made redundant.

As silly as it sounds, I'm glad I don't have to go back!

Medium I guess? Between 100 and 150 people. The directors and managers do actually care, which might make the company unusual, from the sound of it.

Very little. Boss sends round an email update every so often and there is a link to two people in the organisation who are mental health first aiders. Line managers are told to keep an eye on their staff for signs of stress. Tricky when everyone puts a face on for team zoom meetings! No support really for line managers

Mine has been good I feel, we've had a revised flexible working policy, attempts to prioritise those who can't WFH due to space/other for the limited office space, and we have workplace counselling. But workload is high and physical issues to do with bad desks etc at home are not getting much attention.

Good to some extent - prioritising space in the office to those who don’t have an appropriate set up or space at home, virtual coffee mornings and weekly catch ups with line managers or mentors.

They put a number of people on furlough at 100% pay for those who had caring commitments until schools reopened & people on furlough were encouraged to join team meetings or events where they could to still feel involved.

We have private medical insurance for everyone in the company and they have enhanced the mental health and counselling packages free of charge to us.

The one thing they haven’t considered is support for those of us who had to take on extra work throughout the time people were on furlough. Now they are back, either a bonus or extra annual leave would very much be appreciated as a thank you.

With horribly cringey intrusive ‘interventions’ by line managers and an overwhelming (and largely patronising) emphasis on mental health and nothing on support for physical well being as we work from home, unsupported, in suboptimal conditions. Easy to talk the talk on mental health

I cannot fault my company they have been fantastic (large multinational).

Organisational level - internal and external trainings on wellness, sleep, mindfulness. Internal website with guidance on how to work effectively when remote, both individually and as a team. Short term access to an external wellness app that has sleep guides, modules on how to cope with stress etc

Team level - regular team calls but not excessive. Encouragement to take time out your day to call a colleague for a chat (unlike a lot of posters I have seen on MN we have a team who actually get on and like each other). Encouragement to work flexibly i.e. if you want to take a 2 hour lunch to go a walk or split your day to home school the kids. During lockdown people also took time to go and get food shopping during the day when the stores were generally quieter