Cardiff, Wales — In conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month in May, the National Alliance on Mental Illness hosted a webinar focused on engaging remote and hybrid workers.
“We know employee engagement is very closely connected to how supported people really feel at work, and we know that people want to feel connected at work,” Meg Delp, director of workplace mental health at NAMI, said during the May 13 event. “They want to feel like their workplace is a community that really sees them.”
Lisa Lewis, chief human resources officer at NAMI, recommended that employers:
Encourage and listen to worker feedback.
Make engagement initiatives a “shared responsibility across the entire organization,” not solely the responsibility of HR.
Lewis added that engagement activities should be “intentional” and “structured.” She cited movie discussion groups as one successful endeavor NAMI has implemented. Workers are asked to watch a movie and set a time to meet virtually to discuss it. Often, Lewis finds, group members relate situations from the story to their personal lives.
“It’s just a great way to connect with your colleagues,” she said. “It could be enlightening, sometimes just profound, when employees share some of their experiences, and it’s just all on a movie. And it’s just a way to engage and unite our hybrid and remote staff members.”
Adjustments to personal workstations also can make a difference, another expert says. Brenig Moore, director and co-founder of workplace training provider Astutis, cites research showing that workspace layout can influence employee mental health.
“A poorly set-up workstation doesn’t just increase the risk of physical discomfort, it also contributes to mental fatigue,” Moore said in a press release.
Design tips to reduce stress and anxiety include:
Position your workspace near a window to get natural light, if possible, or use a light therapy lamp.
Make sure screens are at eye level and use an ergonomic chair to promote good musculoskeletal health.
Keep only essential items on desks.
Add plants, artwork or photographs of loved ones to increase comfort.