Editor’s Note

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If you think the impact of COVID-19 on employees will subside once the infection slows down, you might need to think again. Businesses can bring in new strategies to improve economy and make new changes in the work structures to adapt to new work norms, but the toll on mental health will stay for some time.

There is a whole lot of uncertainty right now, of course, with the uncertainty extending into the foreseeable future. The longer the world remains in self-isolation due to COVID-19, the more mental health issues are of concern.
 

May is Mental Health Month. Given the current worldwide situation, there’s no better time for employers to focus on the importance of employees’ mental health. Included in this month’s issue of Employee Benefits & Wellness Excellence, is a variety of hand-picked articles that shed light on COVID-19 and Employee Mental Health.

This month’s cover article, COVID-19: Let Employees Know They Aren't Alone by Seraine Page helps us understand why employers should observe mental health month 2020 and help employees cope with the current crisis.

Remote working is experienced differently by every worker. For some, the shift to working from home has come as a relief and welcome surprise, as workers find that they can stay productive and highly effective. And for others who already worked from home, it’s been nice to have others walk in their shoes and to recognize that work-from-home employees often, in fact, work longer than those in the office, as it’s difficult to separate professional and personal time. Read Melanie Tinto’s article, COVID-19: Dealing With The Mental Health Of Your Remote Workforce, to know a few ways on how employers can best support the mental health of their teams who are working remotely. 

On March 18, Congress passed and the President signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to address the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Catch up with Laurie Savage’s article Navigating The Families First Coronavirus Response Act to know the key takeaways for HR professionals. Also, read Agni Skafidas’ article, Protecting Your Mental Health During COVID-19 for some useful tips to support employee mental health. 

This is not all! We have a list of other informative articles in this month’s edition to help you face the crisis and boost your mental resilience.  We hope you enjoy reading all the articles and get back to us with your valuable feedback and comments.

Stay Safe. Stay Healthy.  
 

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