How technology can boost employee mental health and wellbeing

Recent years have seen working patterns and habits change exponentially. Working environments have evolved from those of pre-COVID years, with communal offices being used less frequently by companies who have embraced the concept of remote or hybrid working. However, when it comes to worker wellbeing, it’s largely influenced by what the employee prefers, whether it’s working onsite or working remotely.

Employers, if they do decide to invest in a shared office space, need to think strategically about how it can be appealing and beneficial for employees’ wellbeing, however frequently they set foot on site. In addition, ‌when employees are working remotely, employers must not ignore their duty of care when ensuring that each person’s setup is suitable, and comfortable, and does not impact productivity or their wellbeing.

One of the common talking points around employee wellbeing is technology, which can be a tremendously helpful tool to boost efficiency and relieve the stresses and pressures of work. Technology has often been the driving force behind modern workplace dynamics, allowing for easier access to shared servers, documents, files, and collaboration with stakeholders and clients. Technology can – and often does – make employees’ lives significantly easier, when used right. Although, there are arguments that suggest technology to be a significant stressor on people’s mental health.

Despite technology evidently making work inherently more streamlined, it has, regrettably, fostered more working cultures of employees being ‘always on’, which makes it more difficult for employees to achieve a healthy work-life balance. Ignoring this for too long can lead to physical and mental implications, which can subsequently, affect productivity and performance at work, as well as staff retention and absences.

However, it’s all about finding that healthy balance between using technology effectively and productively, while not letting it become too burdensome. Employers can create a collaborative, engaging, positive and healthy workplace – be it remote, hybrid or face-to-face – with the help of digital tools and solutions.

How can technology improve workplace wellbeing?

Here are some of the ways in which technology can improve workplace wellbeing and mental health, whether that’s in an office environment or at home.

Improved communication and collaboration

• Video conferencing - Tools like Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams allow employees to connect with each other even when they’re not in the same location. The pandemic caused a surge in the use of these tools for business and leisure, and they have been known to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.
• Task and project management – Project management tools like Teamwork, Trello, Asana, and many others can help employees to stay organized and on track with their work. Many have built-in functionalities to help employees understand the stages that projects and tasks are at, and what needs to be done and when. In turn, this can prevent productivity from taking a hit.
• Instant messaging apps - Apps like Slack and Discord allow employees to communicate with each other instantly and easily. In many ways, these apps can integrate with project management tools and vice versa, making it easier to stay on track. This can lead to issues and queries being resolved quickly.

Preventing employee stress and burnout

• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) - These digital programs provide employees with access to confidential counseling and one-to-one support, allowing employees to voice any issues they may be having, such as stress, anxiety, conflicts, disputes and so on.
• Stress management apps – These apps can help employees learn how to manage their stress levels with the help of relaxation techniques, guided meditation, breathing exercises, and many other tools to ease the daily stresses of work.
• Healthy lifestyle programs - These types of programs are designed to help employees adopt healthier habits, both inside and outside of work, usually via a third-party app. Employers can even go a step further and find health-related perks to offer their staff, such as discounted gym memberships, access to fitness classes or the Cycle to Work scheme, among others.

Encouraging a better work-life balance

• Flexible work arrangements – As said earlier, a flexible work-life balance is highly sought after by many full-time employees, especially those that are parents. Telecommuting and flextime are arrangements that can help employees achieve a better work-life balance and give them more control over their work schedules, which, in turn, can help them to reduce stress and improve their overall wellbeing.
• Mobile apps – Some employees find that staying connected to their work – even when they’re not actively working on projects – is reassuring and helps reduce anxiety. If employees can use mobile apps effectively and not excessively, particularly when they are on annual leave, it can still help them retain a healthy balance, as well as allow them to offer their input at any time, if needed.

Increasing employee engagement

Online training courses – Employers can invest in effective online training and education to help employees develop new skills and pursue fervent interests of theirs. This can help employees to feel more engaged in their work and to be more productive.

• Employee recognition programs – With the help of technology, these programs can help employees feel appreciated for their work and accomplishments, which goes a long way in boosting morale, motivation and long-term retention.
• Employee feedback programs – Employers can get feedback from employees about their work environment and their satisfaction with their jobs with the help of digital feedback programs. This feedback can be used to make improvements to the workplace and to create a more positive and productive work environment.
• Easy-to-use HR software - Company HR functions can be moved into the digital space now. Any HR process, be it electronic document signatures, form fills, or distribution of pay slips, can all be done digitally, saving on paperwork and giving employees a platform to oversee everything they need regarding their employment, and employment benefits.

Focusing on recruitment, personal growth and retention

• Modern and innovative workplaces – Companies that offer employees access to helpful and modern technology (especially within a healthy office set-up) are more likely to be seen as desirable employers. If they can demonstrate that their technology can improve productivity, collaboration, and communication, this can pique the interest of staff when the time comes to recruit.
• Competitive salaries and perks – Companies that offer competitive benefits and compensation are more likely to attract and retain top technical talent, vacancies of which are particularly hard to fill these days. Employees want to be compensated fairly for their work, and they also want to have access to benefits that will help them to live healthy and happy lives.
• Supporting individual ‌passions - Every employee has their own passions and interests, and companies that leverage this and align employee’s values to their roles can do better at retaining employees. If someone is passionate about being more sustainable, there’s a good chance they are looking for like-minded jobs that take eco-friendliness seriously. Therefore, employers that exhibit these traits and demonstrate a commitment to being a sustainable business will more likely retain staff and attract people to their company.
• Opportunities for growth and development – Companies that offer employees clear and attainable opportunities to upskill and develop their competencies – in technical fields like development, programming, coding and others – are likely to hold onto their staff for longer. Employees want to feel like they are growing and developing in their careers and also want to embrace opportunities for upskilling when the time is right.

Automating tasks

In addition, technology such as robotics, AI and machine learning can be used to automate repetitive tasks or jobs that require constant pattern recognition.

These technologies reduce the risk of human error and anomalies, while delivering accurate results quickly, and not at the expense of valuable employee time, which can be better spent on strategic or creative tasks. Employees don’t want to feel like a robot, doing the same arduous tasks, so if that can be left to a machine, they will jump at ‌tasks that involve creativity and independent thought.

As you can see, technology has a huge role to play in boosting workplace and employee wellbeing. Finding ways to leverage technology for the benefit of your team’s day-to-day tasks, and other responsibilities that help make their lives easier, all amount to a healthy, successful and prosperous workplace culture.