As the nights draw in and the days get shorter, the challenges of supporting lone working staff become even more apparent. For remote workers, freelancers, or employees who travel solo, the colder, darker months can bring heightened feelings of isolation and reduced motivation. But with the right strategies, these months can be an opportunity to focus, reflect, and thrive.
Here’s how to support your lone-working staff through November and beyond, ensuring their safety, wellbeing, and productivity remain strong.
Supporting lone working staff boosts wellbeing
November’s early sunsets and colder mornings can sap motivation, making it harder to stay upbeat and energised throughout the workday. To counteract this, it’s essential to create a positive environment that supports both mental and physical health.
1 – Maximise Natural Light:
Maximise exposure to natural light which can be done by setting up a workspace near a window. For breaks, recommend that they get outside to soak up the natural light (Yes, we know that is most unlikely with the weather we have been having, but when the sun pays a visit, grab the opportunity with both hands!). In the meantime, you could invest in a daylight lamp for your staff to help them regulate their mood and energy levels, especially if they’re prone to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
2 – Promote Active Breaks:
Have reminders to move. Regular physical activity helps to boost circulation, improve focus, and lift mood. So ensure that your staff know this. Remind them to incorporate short, frequent breaks to stretch, walk around, or do some light exercises to keep their body active and mind clear.
3 – Create Comfort:
As temperatures drop, a warm, comfortable workspace is essential. Advise employees to create a cosy yet professional environment to enhance both mood and productivity.
Combat Isolation by Staying Connected
Supporting lone workers in the darker months is important, as the isolation of working alone is amplified during this time. Social interactions naturally decrease. So maintaining regular communication is key to supporting your team:
- Check-In: Keep communication channels active with your lone working staff. Schedule regular check-ins, video calls, or even virtual coffee breaks to provide them with a sense of camaraderie.
- Community: Consider providing links to online professional networks or forums where your lone working staff can connect with others in their field. Engaging in these communities can provide support, inspire new ideas, and offer a sense of belonging.
Prioritise Safety for On-Site Lone Workers
If your staff are working alone onsite, offsite or travel between sites, the combination of dark evenings and colder weather means that safety becomes even more of a priority.
- Prepare: If they drive for work, you must always have a risk assessment but also make sure that their vehicle is ready for winter. We have a great blog on our website title ‘Are you and your vehicle prepared?’
- Communication: Always ensure a lone worker’s schedule and location is known. Having a check-in system in place adds an extra layer of security and peace of mind.
Focus on Mental Health and Set Clear Boundaries
November’s quiet, solitary days can bring about feelings of loneliness, particularly for those who regularly work remotely. Maintaining mental wellbeing is essential during this time. You are responsible for supporting the wellbeing of your lone working staff.
- Wellbeing: There are Apps that can offer guided mindfulness sessions that staff can use during their breaks throughout the workday, helping them to keep centred and calm, which can help manage any anxiety of working alone. There are Lone working Apps that employers use to check their employee’s wellbeing.
- Boundaries: It’s easy for the lines between work and home life to blur when you’re a homeworking employee. Encourage them to set clear boundaries by establishing a routine when they “clock out” at the end of the day. They need to create regular rituals, such as shutting down the computer, closing the office door, clicking STOP to “Check-out” of their lone working App, changing into comfortable clothes… all which will help signal the end of the workday and transition into relaxation.
Plan for Growth and Reflection
November is often seen as the start of the end-of-year reflection process. It’s a great opportunity to take stock of what’s been achieved and start planning.
Use these coming months to set goals and strategies for the next year. Whether it’s finding new clients, improving your workspace, improving safety for your lone working staff…… Don’t wait until “the new year” have a plan in place now will give you a sense of direction and motivation as you move forward.
Staying connected with your lone working and home working staff, actively supporting their wellbeing, and prioritising their safety will not only strengthen your team but also ensure a solid foundation for growth in the year to come. When your team feel supported, motivated, and secure…. your business is poised to thrive.
MyTeamSafe®, award-winning lone-working App
Proud supporters of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust