Human Resources
Create
Cognitive Health in Your Workforce During COVID 19
L
ike any war, the national health crisis of 2020 has left casualties among our workforce. As employers, we cannot ignore the impact social isolation, worry, anxiety, and stress posed by a national crisis has had on our workforce. The true impact of COVID-19 on our employees may not be known for some time, but we will have to ask ourselves whether we will see an increase in factors that, over time, may affect the overall health of our employees and have a direct impact on our costs.
What are the issues related to COVID-19 that can impact your workforce? • Depression and Anxiety • Lack of Sleep • Weight Gain • Increase in Alcohol or Tobacco Use • Lack of Exercise • Poor Nutrition 28
ROBEX — Quarter 3 • 2020
2020_ROBEX_Q3_Fall.indd 28
• Untreated Underlying Conditions • Lack of preventive care and screenings Mental health is essential to the overall health and productivity of our workforce. Therefore, it is critical we bring this issue into the open and have an honest conversation about mental wellbeing, and how we can support employees who are struggling with dangerous side effects of the pandemic.
Amid a worldwide pandemic, stress levels are dramatically higher
Eighty-eight percent of workers have reported experiencing moderate to extreme stress over the past four to six weeks. Almost 70 percent of workers claimed this was the most stressful time of their entire professional career, including major events like the September 11 terror attacks, the 2008 Great Recession and other events. Approximately 63 percent of workers in the U.S. say their company could do more to support their emotional and mental health during the
pandemic, according to a June 1 article in Employee Benefit News. COVID-19 and the resulting economic downturn have negatively affected many people’s mental health. It’s created new barriers for people already suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders, and has impacted some people who have never suffered from depression or anxiety issues in the past. If left untreated, these issues can lead to cognitive decline and permanent cognitive impairment. Cognitive issues have a significant impact on employee performance and can have a profound cost to employers by influencing the following. • Reduced overall productivity • Absenteeism • Inappropriate behavior • Decision-making issues • Lack of focus and motivation • Increased workers comp and healthcare costs
What Can You Do as An Employer?
Here are some tips from the National Safety Council’s “Safe Actions for Employee Return,” prepared in May. www.robex.com
9/15/20 9:43 AM
