As an employer you need to be aware that good mental health management is essential for everyone. But for lone workers, it becomes even more crucial due to the unique challenges of working in isolation.  

Unlike employees in a traditional office or team environments, lone workers or home workers often lack immediate social support. This can make managing stress, receiving reassurance, or sharing concerns that much harder. 

What are the hidden mental health struggles for lone workers, this Mental Health Awareness Week?

If you employ a lone worker and have noticed a change in communication. Or the staff member is uncharacteristically distant, with a lack of motivation or detachment. Then you need to flag this!

Working alone or as a home worker can offer positives such as flexibility, but comes with the challenges to mental health.

Without colleagues around, a lone worker may go an entire shift without meaningful interaction, which leaves them feeling lonely, isolated and demoralised. Add to this some high-risk tasks and that can create a huge stress storm!

In traditional workplaces, managers and teammates can offer instant reassurance, however lone workers don’t have that safety net and often find it harder to ask for it. If that wasn’t enough, remote and lone workers struggle to switch off, leading to burnout. These struggles can build up over time, impacting motivation, productivity, and overall happiness. That’s why it’s essential to actively support the mental wellbeing of those who work for you alone. 

As an employer of a lone worker what could you do to help? 

Create social connection opportunities, even in remote settings.

1 – You could try a virtual coffee catchup (without work discussed) with time slots to connect staff working ’alongside’ each other.

2 – You could introduce virtual coffee and cake to celebrate birthdays and milestones.

3 – You can still organise (where possible) face to face socials.

4 – Ensure your lone workers regularly check in with you. So that you can monitor their mental health and safety. 

5 – Ask some wellbeing and mental health questions regularly. Offer a genuine interest in their wellbeing, so that they know they are not alone, and allow them the space and time to have an honest conversation about their mental health.   

By addressing what we have discussed above, businesses can help lone workers feel valued, supported, and connected. Ensuring both mental health and workplace safety remain a priority, not a problem. 

Need a solution to support your lone workers? 

This Mental Health Awareness Week, take proactive steps to ensure your lone workers feel supported, valued, and protected. Because when employees feel connected and cared for, businesses thrive too. Don’t just think about it during Mental Health Awareness Week, consider training some Mental Health First Aiders to ensure you are considering their needs, all year round.  

Beyond its primary function as a lone worker safety solution, MyTeamSafe enables organisations to collect short surveys from staff, allowing employers to monitor various aspects of their employees’ wellbeing. These surveys can be customised with specific questions that periodically require responses, helping employers assess factors such as stress levels, workload management, and overall mental health. Regular use of these surveys allows organisations to quantitatively review responses over time, unlocking insights into staff wellbeing. If trends indicate a decline in wellbeing, employers can proactively review and adjust their policies, then monitor for improvements in subsequent months. By integrating these wellbeing checks into routine operations, MyTeamSafe assists employers in fulfilling their duty of care, ensuring that remote and lone workers feel supported and connected. 

MyTeamSafe®an award-winning lone-worker App & proud supporter of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust     

The post Why Mental Health Matters for Lone Workers  appeared first on MyTeamSafe.