Acas have published new guidance to help staff manage their mental health at work during coronavirus after a survey found 2 out of 5 employees working from home felt stressed, anxious or experienced mental health difficulties due to their working situation. The Acas-commissioned YouGov survey found that: (a) 10% of those working from home always missed informal/social interaction with others at work and 25% often missed it; (b) 3% always felt stressed, anxious or experienced mental health difficulties due to their working situation, with 9% often experiencing these symptoms, and 25% sometimes feeling this way. Acas’s new advice offers some practical steps to take for those working from home:
- Stay in contact with people – talk to colleagues or friends about how you’re feeling
- Have a routine – so you plan in advance what you’ll be doing each day
- Keep active and exercise
- Make time for activities you enjoy
- Talk to your manager about your situation and how you’re doing
- If necessary, discuss changing your working pattern with your manager to suit your situation
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