Tackling workplace fatigue
Over the last few months there has been lots published on workplace fatigue and I am hoping that my experiences will provide some simple and pragmatic solutions for you and the companies you work in.
I have worked with many companies supporting well being and workplace fatigue, here’s some of the insight from that. The context of this was in the workplace rather than working at home, personally I think it still applies either way.
First off, I always encourage a process of discovery to find out the learning objectives from both a business and a learner perspective. This enables us to come up with genuine ways to make a difference to workplace fatigue.
Typically I focus on four areas, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Social wellbeing — workplace fatigue obviously being an output of these four areas not being managed correctly.
“Wellbeing is about being comfortable, healthy and happy. A state of wellbeing allows you to realise your full potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and make a contribution to your community.”
Interestingly I do find that a common purpose/genuine reason for a business to exist is useful, however can also be slightly detrimental as we end up focusing only on the ‘big picture’ and not so much on the little things that matter such as picking up a piece of rubbish off the office floor.
Another side note was around having consistent expectations and being open and honest about business failures and areas for improvement. It allows people to rest a little easier knowing that their frustrations are being heard.
Right, now to the practical from me in trying to tackle workplace fatigue:
- Encourage exercise, set up a step counting challenge but base it on most improved rather than total number (making it fairer).
- Encourage fresh air, work with a window open!
- Make people feel valued, a genuine ‘thank you’ makes a huge difference be it from peers, managers and SLT.
- Allow people to speak up. Confidential ‘hotline’ type of approach that people can just vent down, no bias, no judgement just pure venting.
- Encourage people to be open about why they actually come to work, to support their family, because it’s close to home — people can feel pressure if they have to lie about ‘joining because I really love the exciting work we do’.
- Speak to each other, talk rubbish, get to know each other, make meaningful connections.
Of course, the strategy and culture work within the business is really important and a red thread of purpose but you need to allow people the opportunity to be honest and connect, that’s how you will start to tackle the physical, intellectual, emotional and social challenges of wellbeing.
In terms of working from home, the challenges do vary slightly, but I believe it to be more around the physical and the social aspects, here are a few other practical examples:
- Be Comfortable.
- Get up regularly to stretch your legs and have a break from the screen.
- If you’re using a laptop — you should still position the screen, so that it’s at eye level, and use a keyboard and mouse.
- Get to know the signs of workplace fatigue and check in with people.
- Set up ‘Wellness champions’ who have time carved out to devote to just chatting with people.
- Safely spend time with family and friends to get the social interaction we usually get at work
- Video foreplay — No get your mind out of the gutter. I mean use the first 5 minutes of a work related call to catch up — don’t jump straight in with work work work.
It doesn’t seem like at the moment anyone has a sure-fire way of reducing workplace fatigue but hopefully the above has been useful in providing practical examples that can be implemented quickly and will have a positive impact on your people.
