News Release<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With 61% of employees saying their most common feelings amidst the coronavirus pandemic are anxiety, stress or distraction<\/a>, HR may well have their biggest challenge yet, according to Matt Stephens, author<\/a> of The Engagement Revolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stephens said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCOVID-19 has meant that many companies have rapidly shifted to remote working, leaving HR with its biggest challenge yet – how to manage and maintain employees\u2019 mental and emotional health remotely through such uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis change of working patterns and self-isolation may make or break the trust employees have in the organisation and could have a profound impact on their psychological wellbeing, let alone productivity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A recent survey from Stephens\u2019 employee insight business, Inpulse, showed that of the negative and positive emotions employees could choose, just seven percent selected \u2018focused\u2019 as a top emotion, while \u2018committed\u2019 only represented 14% of emotions chosen. Previously, \u2018committed\u2019 represented 21% of all emotions chosen in engagement surveys undertaken by Inpulse clients in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This shows a 7% decrease since the coronavirus pandemic. On top of this, \u2018anxious\u2019 represented 5%, \u2018stressed\u2019 was at 5%, and \u2018distracted\u2019 at less than 1%. These have now become dominant emotions, with \u2018anxious\u2019 being 28%, \u2018distracted\u2019 22% and \u2018stressed\u2019 11%. The survey question asked employees to pick no more than two of their most dominant feelings at work, choosing between committed, stressed, focused, valued, curious, anxious, distracted, indifferent and enthusiastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stephens explained, \u201cWe hadn\u2019t seen levels of anxiety and stress like this in \u2018normal\u2019 times and it shows the impact COVID-19 is having on employees\u2019 wellbeing. We took a step back to reflect on how we can help employers protect both the health of employees and the business at this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Together provides employees with short weekly check in surveys<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve made it possible for employers to pulse check employees\u2019 emotional wellbeing on a weekly basis to track, measure and help<\/a> any that are feeling distress through these difficult days. Through a wellbeing framework, employers will be able to understand early warning alerts, spotting issues of emotional distress like isolation, fear, anxiety, workload and ultimately, loss of productivity wherever employees are based.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inpulse Together<\/a> measures 7 core elements for employees: Mental health, Self, Purpose, Connection, Body, Financial and Mind. These show employers whether employees are coping with the demands of daily living, self-awareness, motivation to achieve goals, supportive relationships, physical activity, financial security and the ability to recognise optimism or unhealthy thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Inpulse Survey had 120 responses and took place between 13th<\/sup> and 17th<\/sup> of March 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n End<\/p>\n\n\n\n For media enquiries contact:<\/strong> Kay Phelps, PRinHR: kay.phelps@PRinHR.co.uk<\/a> +44 (0) 7710 043244<\/p>\n\n\n\n About Inpulse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n