The risk of burnout is particularly high for IT staff, most of whom now often have even longer shifts to ensure that their other colleagues can work effectively from home. And home-based IT professionals face day-to-day challenges trying to balance work and family responsibilities.
Employees used to working in close and agile teams may also feel isolated from their colleagues. Strenuous teleworking associated with pandemics and other stressors is detrimental to mental and physical health. In addition to the long-term consequences for individuals, it affects a company's productivity and performance. How can you help your technical colleagues?
Take care of yourself first. From a physical point of view, your IT specialists need to be encouraged to maintain a healthy diet, sleep and not underestimate exercise. It may seem trivial, but it is really important to show an interest.
Be vulnerable. IT leaders can destigmatise mental health issues by opening up to their teams and sharing the issues they themselves are facing. Such empathy strengthens social ties.
Recognise the warning signs. CIOs should also learn to recognise the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression in their staff. On the recommendation of experts, hire a psychologist to help them with this.
Listen to your employees. Employees, especially Generation Z and millennials, want to talk to their employers about mental health more than ever. Ask questions and listen. A simple "How are you?" can really work wonders.
Offer available resources. Studies show that employees want their employers to provide more information about mental health support and services.
Limit virtual meetings. People now sit in more meetings than before the pandemic. However, this often distracts employees from their actual work, with the result that they work until late in the evening or at weekends and neglect their free time and family responsibilities. Employees need space to complete their work in a timely manner. How about introducing "Mondays without meetings"?
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