10 Steps for a Healthy COVID-19 Workplace

By Mary-Lou MacDonald

There’s no question Canadians have been struggling with their mental health throughout the Covid-19 global pandemic. According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, Canadians are four times more likely to report their mental health is worse now than it was before Covid-19. And Statistics Canada stated that only just over half of Canadians reported that their mental health was good – a 14 percent decline in self-perceived mental health.¹

How should employers and organizations respond to this discouraging data? We know already that when staff struggles, an organization struggles. So whether your people are working from their dining room table or a dedicated in-office desk, it’s critical to create an environment that allows for people to remain at their best.

That’s why supporting a healthy COVID-19 workplace culture is not just important, but crucial, during return to work planning. And even if you already have a plan in place, this is a good time to re-evaluate.

Consider following these steps:

1. Get Buy-In. Set the bar for a healthy workplace and what workplace wellness means to your organization. Ensure everyone – from management to employees to other stakeholders – is on the same page, with clear expectations focused on the same goal.
2. Take Stock. Create a vision or mission statement to provide direction and build momentum. Identify programs, policies and health benefits that are currently in place, as well as the opportunities and challenges that may arise as you begin to implement.
3. Communicate. Develop a plan to “sell” the healthy workplace strategy, including encouraging positive modelling by the leadership team. A united management team supporting an initiative goes a long way toward convincing employees.
4. Build a Team. Create a diverse and representative “healthy workplace committee.” The team should include a member of the executive leadership team, as well as senior and middle management and individual contributors with different perspectives from all areas of the organization. Members of this group will be responsible for guiding the strategy and ensuring integration and buy-in from both the top and the bottom.
5. Focus on Data. Use information you already have (e.g., employee satisfaction or engagement surveys; data on absenteeism and turnover; STD and LTD claims, EAP utilization etc.) to determine the main issues of focus. This helps you understand the right things to do at the right time. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure improvement or changes over time.
6. Develop a Plan. Based on the data collected, develop a Healthy Workplace Plan. Balance employee and employer needs and wants, and outline short and long term goals.
7. Strategize and Implement. Develop an action plan outlining how strategies will be resourced (budget), implemented (responsibility) and evaluated (accountability). Strategies should employ a comprehensive approach, designed to create awareness and understanding, build skills and foster a supportive environment.
8. Evaluate. Ongoing assessment of the entire program is critical, and the best time to build the evaluation plan is during the planning stage. Evaluation involves measuring program activities to determine the impact and allows you to make adjustments to the program overall. Report results broadly, so buy-in and investment is clear and ongoing.
9. Celebrate. Recognize successes through an award or recognition program. Find one that provides a nice balance of challenge and achievability. This provides much deserved pride, motivation and benchmarking – but is also smart marketing to current and future employees.
10. Pay It Forward. Mentor others, including other businesses, suppliers and customers, on the importance of creating a healthy workplace culture. Not only is it good for each employee, but it is also good for your business, the economy and the vitality of our communities.

Contact your HUB Health and Performance specialist to find out how you and your business can get additional resources and support related to employee wellbeing.

¹ The Conference Board of Canada, Mental Health Commission of Canada, and Workplace Safety and Prevention Services, “Covid-19 impact on mental health and how employees are coping,” 2020, slide 5.