Colleagues can help create a remote working culture

Before COVID-19, 2.5 million Canadians worked from home. Then the pandemic hit and five million more people found themselves sequestered in home offices or perched anywhere that offered some peace, pecking away at laptops in decidedly non-business attire.

Parks emptied, restaurants closed, social interactions ground to a halt. And, for many, isolation set in.

I wrote last week about what we lose when offices shutter. They are more than just workplaces, offering a social outlet and contributing to our sense of self. Stripped of daily interactions that provide a community safety net, colleagues’ and friends’ struggles with mental health may go unnoticed.

In a survey of Americans working remotely since the pandemic, more than one third reported feeling disconnected. Companies and managers have a role to play in reversing this trend by providing benefits that cover mental health support and by building a work culture that prioritizes well-being. Senior staff should make the company’s mental health resources available, and management should consult with outside experts and doctors to provide training on how to escalate mental health concerns.

But the onus can’t be on management alone. Colleagues can create a remote working culture that helps offset loneliness.

One of the most powerful lessons of the pandemic has been that we have a responsibility to one another as people, citizens and neighbours. Now, more than ever, we need to look out for each other and that includes our coworkers. We may not all be mental health experts, but we can all be compassionate and present colleagues.

In the first few minutes of our video meetings, my colleagues and I regularly take time to check in on how everyone is doing. During COVID-19, this conversation is far from idle. It offers insight into how teammates are coping with the added stress and anxiety. Pay attention to the language your coworkers use. If your formerly bubbly cubicle neighbour is dour on calls, they might benefit from an empathetic one-on-one.

We’re all watching more Netflix than usual, but talk of insomnia or oversleeping, restlessness, hopelessness or a lack of motivation all warrant checking in with peers. You may be surprised how meaningful it can be to simply ask someone how they’re feeling.

Working remotely, we lose the impromptu conversations and communal lunches that organically create meaningful connections in a shared space. We can recreate those moments virtually, even if they’re more structured for the time being. Regularly scheduled virtual coffee breaks and companywide chat platforms that allow staff to talk to one another easily with dedicated team channels for non-work-related topics can be a great reprieve. Or set a teamwide theme day — Mindful Mondays or Wellness Wednesdays are good options — and meet over lunch to talk about pressures people are facing and self-care strategies.

We all feel lonely from time to time. Isolation is much more than that. It’s deeper, born of disconnection, neglect and feelings of abandonment. Our colleagues are out of sight, but we can remind them that they are not out of mind.

Craig Kielburger is co-founder of the WE Movement, which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day.