The lockdown caused by coronavirus
pandemic has led several companies to subtly shift to work
from home policy. However, the expectation to be more productive
even in remote working conditions is still a reality for many employees. The
objective is to get the job done and often there is less importance given to understanding
the psychological impact of the pandemic on the workforce. Undoubtedly this
adds stress to the managers too, who not only need to handle their stress but
also are in a position to make sure that the team feels assured at this
uncertain time. While its ideal of being productive at work is important,
however mental health is far more important.
Home is the current office -
Every employee develops a certain affiliation
towards their workspace. Modern workspaces are designed ergonomically to
foster optimum working conditions for the employees. Whereas home is meant
to be a place of relaxation. This juxtapose creates a contradictory environment
for work. Firstly, not everyone can afford a workspace at home. Secondly, external
factors such as unreliable internet connections can cause technical
difficulties while engaging in work. Even the ones with decent workspace at
home do not have ergonomically friendly chairs, tables, or lighting which in
turn can cause physical strain. Those who are thrown into the situation are still
getting adjusted to the home office.
Endless work hours –
In remote working conditions, it is assumed
that the employees are available the entire day
to work and are being contacted whenever it is necessary by
their peers or managers. Scheduled office work hours seem to have
disappeared in the work from home setting. Such uncontrolled work culture can
create high stress because it is impossible to structure each day. Being at
home in isolation also adds additional personal work of taking care of kids, family
and performing household chores like cooking, cleaning, etc., Often employees
skip meals, or have to resort to working nonstop just to catch up with both work
and personal commitments causing them a lot of anxiety.
Invasion of privacy -
Work from home often requires employees to
connect to a video conference portal to discuss work and take part in group
meetings. Although video calls help in virtual communication, its no substitute
for the in-person interaction. Often workers don’t express themselves fully on
virtual communication setting. In addition to this, video conferences can expose
an employee’s home atmosphere which can affect the privacy of an employee. In
simple terms, It is an invasion of workers private space. Home cannot be an office and it does need to
be. Videos calls can provide unintended visual,
audible clues about the employee to his/her work counterparts. In some cases,
it can lead to emotional distress and poor performance.
The glooming uncertainty -
At this quarantine period, each of us is
processing the trauma differently. It is natural to have concerning thoughts
about the risk of infection of self and our loved ones, financial hardship, etc., which
affects the ability to concentrate at work.
We are all getting emotionally exhausted consuming news updates
about COVID-19. Some may even have lost their family member to the pandemic
and suffering secretly. The peer pressure to stay normal during work from home increases
the risk of mental breakdown.
Feeling of isolation –
Recreation aspects of work atmosphere like
team-building exercises, pool tables, pantry, etc. help to improve social
interaction between coworkers. However,
due to the nature of the shutdown, we
can’t go out and it prevents us from engaging in any social activity. This
forces us to experience a state of loneliness. Time invested in extracurricular
activities holds the ability to execute our work well and can
alleviate quarantine distress. Being isolated at home decreases any chance
of such activities and in turn increases the risk of mental health issues.
In summary
The expectation to be productive while working
from home can provide short term benefits to the organization however it can
have a long-term effect on the mental state of its employees. As a
community, we are going through a traumatic experience. On top of that, employees
have additional pressure of being productive while coping up with the
pandemic. This is a ticking time bomb
and needs to be addressed. We need to create a work culture that is inclusive of
employees’ mental health. However, work from home is going to be our new normal
for the foreseeable future. In the forthcoming blog article we will discuss ways
the organization can make a difference and ensure the well being of its
workforce. Meanwhile, feel free to share
your thoughts on this article.
Kiruba
Solution Consultant
