Remote work burnout: Here’s how you can combat it
With everyone shifting to remote work culture to comply with the stay-at-home orders, employees initially found it a welcome change to work from the comfort of their couch. But lately, the experience has been very different. The deprivation of workplace bonding is making employees feel lonely and depressed.
Author:Paolo ReynaReviewer:James PierceJun 07, 20212.2K Shares220.6K Views
With everyone shifting to remote work culture to comply with the stay-at-home orders, employees initially found it a welcome change to work from the comfort of their couch. But lately, the experience has been very different. The deprivation of workplace bonding is making employees feel lonely and depressed.
At the same time, employers have started noticing burnout symptoms in their employees. With multiple waves of COVID19 making it impossible to go back to working from office premises, employers have understood that remote work is here to stay. But why is remote employee burnout a reason for concern?
Burnout combined with isolation can severely impact an employee’s motivation and make them disengaged. Agreed, there is no travel fatigue and no office politics to deal with when employees WFH. But that has also taken away the element of social engagement which would help employees interact with others and relax during office breaks.
Here are 3 ways organizations can help their employees to combat remote work burnout:
Hold Productive Virtual Meetings
A major concern for remote employees is the large number of meetings they have to attend in a day. Most remote employees complain that they are unable to finish their tasks in time due to back-to-back virtual meetings.
Managers must ensure they hold productive virtual meetings that include only those employees who are absolutely necessary for that discussion. Make it a point to share the meeting agenda beforehand so employees are aware of what needs to be discussed.
When you host the meeting, come prepared with information so the conversation remains focused and employee time doesn’t get wasted unnecessarily. The shorter and clearer the meeting, the better it is.
Provide Support For Employee Well-being
One good thing about the pandemic is that it has brought the topic of employee well-being to the forefront. Employers have realized how crucial it is for them to take care of employee well-being and support to ensure they keep producing good results.
Remote employees go through a lot of stress due to the distractions that come with WFH. To help employees deal with this, you can host a webinar with a mental health consultant who can guide them in taking better care of themselves in these tough times.
With the synchronous virtual classroom support provided by Adobe Captivate Prime, you can easily host an interactive session between employees and a certified counselor. With their guidance, employees can learn better ways to cope with fatigue and exhaustion.
Encourage Breaks
We know this sounds counter-productive, but taking breaks is actually healthy for the human brain. Even though you may feel employees need to sit it through and be done with work at the earliest, after a point the human brain starts getting tired.
Taking short breaks can help employees rejuvenate and come back with better focus. It freshens them up and clears out work stress. This will make it easy for them to concentrate which helps them be more productive.
Working on something for a prolonged duration can lead to extreme fatigue. Even if your employees just take a short walk to get some air, or play a game, or just spend some time with their family- all of these activities can help them relax and reduce fatigue significantly.
Conclusion
Remote work is not for everyone, but the situation demands that everyone must work remotely. Stress and burnout due to remote work can stagnate an employee and may even cause them to avoid work altogether. If you are noticing that your employees are lacking inspiration, use these tips to help them deal with remote work burnout.
Paolo Reyna
Author
Paolo Reyna is a writer and storyteller with a wide range of interests. He graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies.
Paolo enjoys writing about celebrity culture, gaming, visual arts, and events. He has a keen eye for trends in popular culture and an enthusiasm for exploring new ideas. Paolo's writing aims to inform and entertain while providing fresh perspectives on the topics that interest him most.
In his free time, he loves to travel, watch films, read books, and socialize with friends.
James Pierce
Reviewer
James Pierce, a Finance and Crypto expert, brings over 15 years of experience to his writing. With a Master's degree in Finance from Harvard University, James's insightful articles and research papers have earned him recognition in the industry.
His expertise spans financial markets and digital currencies, making him a trusted source for analysis and commentary. James seamlessly integrates his passion for travel into his work, providing readers with a unique perspective on global finance and the digital economy.
Outside of writing, James enjoys photography, hiking, and exploring local cuisines during his travels.
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