Views 4 strategies for navigating in-person and remote work arrangements

Today’s newly-remote employees say they’re working more hours compared to before COVID-19, with an average increase of nearly one extra day per week, according to Alight’s study. Compounding the issue is employees’ difficulty in separating work and personal commitments, which now share the same physical space and therefore create a constant cognitive reminder of all you could or should be doing. The result is a short-term increase in productivity, but there are potential costs to physical, emotional, and social wellbeing due to increased fatigue, burnout, and reduced quality of life.

Well-being is really a proxy for employees’ capacity to perform and there is compelling evidence that employers should invest in the well-being of their employees across a broad spectrum of needs, including physical, emotional, financial, social, and career. Managers and leaders should conduct frequent check-ins with employees to see how they’re doing, and also encourage colleagues to check-in with each other. In the past, office drop-ins or pass-bys on the floor contributed to interaction and related well-being, but now employers must offer new ways for workers to connect with their colleagues, whether it’s through video chats, digital platforms, or even virtual social gatherings complete with team building activities.