COVID Fatigue

COVID fatigue is something we all feel we have suffered to one degree or another. But what exactly is it? There are many ways in which colleagues may be suffering from COVID fatigue.

They may have experienced COVID themselves, endured periods of self-isolation, had to care for family members, or suffered the frustration of cancelled plans, often on more than one occasion. In their working life, they may have spent long periods on furlough, had to work from home, felt isolated from colleagues or suffered anxiety from the thought of returning to the workplace. And, although the economy and society is gradually returning to normality, COVID is still with us, and many employees are still working from home. 

There are a few simple steps organisation can take to help minimise COVID fatigue and ease the return to the workplace for those still working from home:

Most importantly, organisation should be aware of COVID fatigue and the strain it may have put on colleagues. Leaders should be open and available to talk and listen to employees concerns, and ask them what support they would find useful.

When possible, make the return to the  workplace gradual, recognising that some employees will have increased anxieties about COVD security. Explain to them the measures in place to protect them and your continuing focus on workplace infection control. Read our earlier blog article about measures to ensure a  safe return to work.  See also our customer support centre for a range of articles and videos explaining how you can provide effective workplace infection control.

Where offered, make use of the support available from existing employee benefits provision, such as medical insurance, who commonly provide  support for both physical and mental wellbeing. In the same vein may organisations are now offering mental health support directly to employees,  training members of staff to be able to spot the signs of mental distress and offer appropriate support, referring them to external counselling support if necessary,

Above all perhaps, employers should try and make their workplace a happy, fun and mutually supportive environment; a good morale among colleagues can have a powerful uplifting impact on colleagues.