Covid-19 raises mental health and wellbeing risk

Mental health and wellbeing risks are likely to rise as more employees return to the workplace and stress mounts from prolonged Covid-19 conditions and uncertainty, warned Richard Hoult, head of risk, audit and assurance at Thames Water, who is moderating a session on the topic at Airmic Fest.

Covid-19 has thrown employee mental health and wellbeing into the spotlight, said Mr Hoult. While more forward-thinking companies were already growing more aware of the implications of mental health on workers suffering physical injury or stress, Covid-19 has increased the risk and need for proactive risk management, he told CRE.

“Mental health is now a far more relevant risk issue than in the past. Covid-19 is causing additional stress for employees on top of everyday work and life. As more people return to the workplace, risks associated with mental health will increase, which could have implications for individuals and businesses,” said Mr Hoult, who is also a member of Airmic’s leadership group.

Covid-19 is likely to heighten mental health risks in the workplace, at least in the short term, according to Mr Hoult. “There could be a blip in mental health as employees are required to come back into offices and workplaces, against the backdrop and uncertainty of an ongoing pandemic. Some, especially the more vulnerable employees and those with underlying health issues, may be concerned about the safety of the workplace or commuting on public transport,” he said.

“The pandemic is likely to impact workers’ wellbeing in multiple ways. Some workers may have reduced levels of stress and a better work-life balance, preferring remote or flexible working. However, other employees may find working with Covid-19 safety measures and exposure to the threat of potential infection adds to already stressful jobs, noted Mr Hoult. Changes to working conditions, such as homeworking or scaling back of hours, may not suite some who rely on work for social interaction and the job satisfaction it can provide,” he added.

The heightened risk of mental health will likely be an issue for some time, according to Mr Hoult. “It is unlikely we will see stability return to the workplace much before next summer. There is still a lot of uncertainty regarding the pandemic, working conditions and any vaccine. We could even see a second wave of mental health issues as workers struggle working remotely or under additional stress for a prolonged period,” he said.

With the heightened risk of mental health issues in the workplace, pre-Covid-19 processes and risk management frameworks may not be sufficient, warned Mr Hoult. He believes Covid-19 requires a separate process that can identify and address heightened risks associated with the pandemic, which include people risks, wellbeing and health and safety.

Thames Water, for example, reviews its Covid-19 risk register every two weeks, rather than the normal quarterly review. It also continually monitors employee wellbeing and uses surveys to identify at-risk individuals and wider potential issues. This has resulted in some changes to working conditions for home workers, as well as the option to return to the office for some employees.

A growing number of organisations are recruiting ‘mental health first aiders’, including Thames Water. “Mental health first aiders are a great way for businesses to support employees – at Thames Water, over 7% of our workers are now mental health first aiders. If an employee is going through a challenging time, they have someone they can just talk to and not be judged. We are seeing more of these first aiders called upon since coronavirus,” said Mr Hoult.

Risk managers should take a short-, medium- and long-term view of Covid-19-related risks, with an eye on identifying opportunities, Mr Hoult said. “Longer term, there may be ways to improve wellbeing and capitalise on opportunities. For example, if enough employees prefer home or flexible working, it may be possible to have fewer offices,” he said.