As the news breaks of more announcements on the slow lifting of lockdown we’re probably all feeling a mix of emotions. There’s happiness at a restart of ‘normally’ life and places that we work, shop or meet in reopening. There’s hesitancy about safety and what will happen in the future. Maybe there’s relief if you’re a small business owner that things might get going again. Maybe there’s grief and fear if you’ve experienced tough times during lockdown.
How do we all make sense of what’s happening and plan for what’s happening?
For many of us, the reality will be that working at home remains the best option. The Government’s guidance is clear that if working at home is possible, this is what should be done. However, some workplaces will be reopening if you have no other option and planning is probably in full swing.
As we read guidance this week and began to consider our own workspace, we were struck by these sections.
In the Government’s Guidance on “Working Safety during Covid-19 in Offices and Contact Centres” they advise that provision should be made for:
“Monitoring the wellbeing of people who are working from home and helping them stay connected to the rest of the workforce, especially if the majority of colleagues are on-site.”
(page 7)
Furthermore, the report advises the importance of:
“Keeping in touch with off-site works on their working arrangements including their welfare, mental and physical health and personal security.”
(Also page 7)
The eight other industry-specific guidance for getting started again can all be found at the HM Government web pages and all of them make reference to the mental health and wellbeing challenges of this crisis and ways support can be offered.
So what part does wellbeing play in getting ready for re-opening and how can we be aware and support our wellbeing and those around us as things begin to change? We’ve put together five tips to help you get started.
Tip #1: Prioritise Talking and Listening
This month we’ve been focusing on the issue of ‘tough talking’ and in this particular context it’s vital to find ways to share and to listen. There will be so many different emotions and feelings around at this time. Given that we’ve been working remotely for a while it maybe that these emotions aren’t fully known and haven’t been made public to your teams or in your organisations. So take time to talk. Ask how people are and let them share. Share yourself.
We loved this post from Brene Brown about here practice of asking how people are at the beginning of zoom meetings. This sort of idea is invaluable at this time.
Read How Breene Brown runs Emotionally Intelligent Zoom Meetings
Talking and sharing can often need a kickstart and so we wanted you all to know that Space to Breathe are still offering free Wellbeing Check-In’s for anyone who wants them. Find out more and sign up via the weblink below.
Tip #2: Include wellbeing in your practical planning
Each workplace is being asked by the Government to complete a risk assessment for their workplaces. This seems to be whether you are reopening or not. The guidance for offices states:
“You must make sure that the risk assessment for your own business addresses the risks of Covid-19 using the guidance to inform your decisions and control measures.”
(page 4, offices and contact centres)
The most obvious aspects of this planning will involve cleaning and hygiene, work-spaces and contact with customers and staff. However, the guidelines emphasis on wellbeing does make that a key issue in how you’re planning. Consider:
How will you ensure that people working remotely still feel connected within teams?
How will you help those working remotely who are living on their own and are isolated?
How will your organisation deal with fears and anxieties about returning?
How will you mark the loss of colleagues, the realities of job insecurity and the impact of the virus on everyday life?
Include wellbeing in your planning and consider auditing the provision of what you currently offer and how that needs to change? What new resources or support might you need to get hold of? How will staff gain support at a distance and how will teams work in this new situation
Space to Breathe can offer support by providing our Covid-19 Wellbeing Audit service and can also offer a suite of self-care resources which can be used digitally and remotely through our Self-Care Resources Pack. Check them both out on our Wellbeing Resources pages below.
Tip #3: Think about connection
“The penny has also dropped that wellbeing isn’t individual but social. We are not actually independent at all, but dependent. We can make each other sick and we can try to make each other well. We’ve understood that a healthy community (as Wendell Berry wrote in his essay Health Is Membership) isn’t merely human, but also ‘its soil, its water, its air’.
(Tobias Jones: After coronavirus, the penny has dropped that wellbeing isn't individual but social, The Independent 12/04/20)
This brilliant article from Tobias Jones was one of many which has highlighted the way the current crisis has brought focus onto the importance of relationships, community and connection. In simple terms we need each other.
Have a think about how teams are working in your context right now. How are connections taking place and what gets in their way? How are people getting on with zoom and what negative impacts does it have? Have people lost track with the bigger picture in your work as they’ve been at home? Have friendships been disconnected and might need a reboot? Brainstorm all your thoughts and ideas and then bring these questions to your team. How will you work in whatever the new normal for you is?
We’ve written a guide to working at home here which handles helpful elements of wellbeing and connection when we’re not at work. Check out A Lockdown Survival Guide here.
Tip #4: Don’t avoid fears and worries
It’s one thing for the Government to declare something will re-open but another thing for people to feel confident about that decision. The too-and-fro about schools reopening is an example of that fact. Similarly working at home doesn’t mean people will be immune to fears and worries.
Central to this question is finding a way to be open about people’s fears and to listen to them.
Have a think about these questions:
If you’ve teams working both at home and in the office how is everyone feeling about that? What are the different fears and issues present and how can they be shared?
What happens if people are worried about a decision to re-open. What options do they have to talk and learn more? We’ve found transparency and discussion always works best and the Government guidelines suggest your risk assessments are shared and discussed with everyone.
What if you’re concerned about decisions made and your safety? Its worth making yourself familiar with sections 44 and 100 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. It applies to employeesand sets out rights with regard to “serious and imminent” danger. On 10 February, the Government advised that Coronavirus is a “serious and imminent threat to public health.” This doesn’t mean its always that but is worth awareness and should be an important part of your discussions. Take people’s fears seriously and if you feel concerned - share it.
We shared a few tools recently about stress and worry and these should help you if you need to process how you feel in more detail. Check out the article here.
Tip #5: Don’t move too far ahead
There’s been so many opinions and experts sharing their thoughts in these last few months. You may feel overwhelmed by all this input. We can understand that.
At the beginning of the crisis I was struck by the thoughts of actor Stephen Fry who questioned those who said they knew what might happen and expressed expertise to see the future ahead of us. He simply cited medical professionals who were speaking in maybe’s, perhaps, not sure’s and possibles and asked whether that was a more accurate and truthful way to speak. We really don’t know what might happen next.
In the light of this it’s important to not move too far ahead. Prepare for eventualities but don’t get too ahead of the present. We don’t know what might be round the corner. If you can take one day at a time and be open with yourself and others to changing plans.
Conversely try to blank out those who declare they know what’s happening and encourage you do the same. Take a deep breath, take time and don’t get too far ahead.
We always quote the 12 Steps approach of knowing the difference between what we can control and what we can’t. There are many things happening right now outside of our control. We can rant and rave about them and feel things are unfair, but ultimately they’re out of our control and whether they happen or not may well be out of our control. It’ll be ok.
Some help during the crisis
Thoughout the Coronavirus crisis we’ve worked hard to share resources, support and ideas that offer help during this unique and challenging time. We’re still trying to do that. Our Coronavirus pages highlight the work of others and a few of the things we do which might help. Why not check them out below. We also want to genuinely help you whatever your situation. Why not get in touch and share what’s going on with you and how we might help? We’d love to hear from you.
Take care