• Around one third of employees feel disengaged from their work⁽¹⁾
• Hybrid working is more likely to amplify than mitigate the issue
• Disengagement can be a consequence of poor boundaries between work and home life
• Clinical experts offer five steps for employees to regain a positive post-pandemic mindset

Employee mental health and wellbeing experts, Wellbeing Partners, announced today five tips that will help employers boost post-pandemic mindsets – to drive better staff engagement, improved resilience and a more positive workplace outlook.

Wellbeing Partners research shows that 37% of employees⁽¹⁾ report feeling disengaged and demotivated at work. A large number, including those in HR and People teams, are also experiencing moderate to severe burnout.

The solutions for improving the post-pandemic mindset into a more engaged and productive workforce depend partly on an organisation collaborating with employees to permit and encourage better work life boundaries. Employees wellbeing will benefit enormously from being able to switch off and having more life outside work, and also need to take responsibility for actioning other positive changes as outlined below.

James Milford, head of behavioural sciences at Wellbeing Partners comments:

“A significant number of employees, more than a third, report feeling disengaged, exhausted, unfocused, low in motivation, and many are also anxious about social interaction. It’s something that employers simply cannot ignore as recruitment and retention becomes more challenging.  Businesses need to prioritise and put in place structures that cultivate better work life balance for employees as a first step for re-engagement, and then encourage staff to take actions that enhance focus, improve mood, build confidence and create a more positive mindset around their work.”

Wellbeing Partners offer five tips from their “Back on Track: the Post-Pandemic Mindset” session for employees, which helps foster a post-pandemic mindset that is resilient, positive and prepared for the challenges ahead. In summary:

1. Mindfulness for Resilience and Calm: practicing mindfulness reduces stress, promotes relaxation and gives people the tools they need to be resilient in the face of challenges.
2. Challenge Unhelpful Thinking Patterns:  habitual patterns of thought can trigger and sustain stress. Learning to respond differently at times of challenge boosts confidence, resilience and mental positivity.
3. Explore – don’t Ignore: while we naturally shy away from difficult subjects, it’s importantto surface emotions through journaling, speaking to others or engaging in creative projects. Exploring difficult emotions helps us process them, reducing their impact and decreasing negative mindsets.
4. Find the Right Balance: demotivation is often a sign that we need to pay more attention to our work/life balance. Actively putting clear, defined boundaries in place to transition from work to rest are key. Not checking emails after work hours is a simple but effective starting point. Instead engage in fun, relaxing or supportive hobbies and activities.
5. Cultivate Connectivity: engaging with others makes us happier, so we should look to activities that bring people together.  Volunteering or engaging community projects help boost mood and confidence whilst reducing social anxiety.

(1) Research by Wellbeing Partners from 4,000+ employees at 50+ workplaces across the UK in 2021/22.

About Wellbeing Partners

Wellbeing Partners is a firm of clinical experts in employee mental health, providing a range of tools to aid the emotional, mental and physical wellbeing of employees at more than 350 organisations in the UK and across the globe. Its market-leading wellbeing workshops, mental health training courses, crisis counselling and one to one wellbeing coaching services are delivered by more than 50 qualified clinical health experts. Topics include mental health, physical and nutritional wellbeing to parenting and menopause support.

Press contacts:

James Milford
Media Relations
[email protected]