TOP 5 TIPS TO PREVENT REMOTE WORKING STRESS AND DEVELOP RESILIENCE

From DAC Beachcroft

1 DAC BEACHCROFT Top 5 tips to prevent stress and develop resilience

TOP 5 TIPSTo prevent remote working stress

It is well recognised that even small, well-planned changes can have a big impact on a person’s way of working, morale and level of work related stress. Working remotely can be a cause of anxiety for some, decreasing productivity and increasing the risk of time being taken off work. Identifying such anxieties early will reduce the impact, prevent ill-health and absence. Furthermore, active consideration of the risk of stress from what was a fairly rapid and forced change to working styles will avoid claims and prosecutions. In the circumstances we thought it helpful to provide our top 5 tips to reduce stress to keep the workforce mentally fit, engaged and productive.

IT’S GOOD TO TALK

O Ensure a continuing dialogue with staff via virtual team meetings, one-to-ones, catch-ups, performance reviews and appraisals.

O Provide regular opportunities for discussion to ensure consultation and staff input, where possible outlining how decisions are made and maintaining participation in decision making processes.

O Ask the team what causes them concern.

O Celebrate team successes at this difficult time!

SUPERVISION

O Ensure accessibility not only for setting work objectives but also for identifying skills gaps, training needs (e.g. perhaps you may need to consider virtual training in respect of prioritisation skills) and providing support.

O Ensure clear communication regarding present and planned workloads.

O Provide staff the opportunity to clarify their responsibilities in the context of the new working environment and give them the opportunity to raise any concerns and address any uncertainties.

O Ensure staff remain clear about their work objectives and where they sit within a structure which sets out who does what and why. BE FLEXIBLE AND TAKE

A BREAK!

O Encourage flexibility to address the present circumstance e.g. employees having to work from home, child-mind, tutor or provide assistance for the vulnerable.

O Advocate maintaining sensible disciplines such as a regular routine: a regular start and end time, meal times, good sleep hygiene and separation of work-life from home life.

O Remind staff of the importance of regular breaks.

2 DAC BEACHCROFT Top 5 tips to prevent stress and develop resilience

GET MOBILE

O Encourage daily exercise but with a “safety-first” approach so as to avoid any unnecessary trips to A&E!

SUPPORT EACH OTHER

O Encourage staff to support each other and where staff are identified as experiencing problems, consider devising wellness action plans.

O Consider buddy systems to provide mutual support.

The key focus should be upon communication and support in what are uncertain times and aim to ensure that everyone is aware that they are not forgotten and that support is available when needed.

Whilst this update is focused upon prevention rather than cure, where limited resources are being applied in difficultcircumstances please remain mindful of the potential need to evidence the reasons for decisions, your acts and sometimes inactions. For example demands upon your technology and the availability of others will likely present challenges at this time and it would be sensible to retain accessible evidence of steps taken to add IT resource and adjustments made to targets, when events have led to frustrations and hindered performance.

3 DAC BEACHCROFT Top 5 tips to prevent stress and develop resilience

TOP 5 TIPSTo prevent work-related upper limb disorders

Many employees who WFH will have knowledge of how to set up a work space at home and may in some cases have been provided with equipment by the business. However, most employers will not be geared up to provide materials to all employees who may need to WFH. Many employees will not have a dedicated workspace at home and may find themselves working in unusual situations. Employees need to be reminded that they need to assess their workstation before commencing work. Below the top 5 tips to ensure a safe work station

SIT RIGHT

O Forearms should be level with the desk

O Hips should be higher than knees

O The chair support the curve of the back (a cushion may help)

O Don’t lean forward

SEE RIGHT

O The font size, colour and brightness should be sufficient to allow information to be read easily without leaning forward or squinting

O The screen(s) should be centrally positioned to avoid having to turn your neck and should be about an arm’s length away

O The top of the screen(s) should be at eye height

USE EXTERNAL DEVICES

O If possible the keyboard and mouse should be separate to the screen(s)

O The position of the devices should be in a natural position and without force or pressure being required to use them

PUT THE KETTLE ON!

O Take regular breaks from the work space i.e. 5 minutes every hour

O Don’t stare at the screen and try and adjust focus to allow your eyes to relax

STRETCH

O Avoid sitting still for prolonged periods and during rest breaks practice mild stretches (within your capability)

O Practice stretches you can do at your desk

4 DAC BEACHCROFT Top 5 tips to prevent stress and develop resilience

Desk stretches to incorporate into you day

BACK ROTATION

O While seated, cross your arms over your chest.

O Cross your arms and touch your shoulders

O Rotate your upper body from the waist, turning gently from side to side as far as is comfortable

SHOULDER STRETCH

O Hold one arm across your body and pull your elbow to your chest with your other hand

O Repeat for both sides

SHOULDER SHRUGS

O Relax your arms by your sides

O Lift your shoulders together towards your ears

O Let both should slowly return to a normal resting position

SUPPORTED BACK STRETCH

O Sit straight and look forward with your feet together

O Support your lower back with your hands

O Gently lean back over your hands as far as is comfortable

NECK ROTATIONS

O Start by looking straight ahead and then gently turn your head from side to side.

O Try and extend the turn as far is comfortable but don’t push too far

BACKWARDS SHOULDER EXTENSION

O Whilst standing reach behind you with both hands and clasp them together

O Gently lift your arms

UPWARDS SHOULDER EXTENSION

O Whilst sitting or standing raise your arms above your head

O Interlace your fingers with your palms facing towards the ceiling

O Gently reach upwards as far as is comfortable

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DAC Beachcroft Claims Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of DAC Beachcroft LLP. It is a limited company registered in England and Wales (registered number 04218278) regulated and authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The Authority’s rules can be accessed at http://www.sra.org.uk/code-of-conduct.page. A list of the directors, together with a list of those persons who are designated as partners, is available for inspection at our registered office, Portwall Place, Portwall Lane, Bristol, BS1 9HS. This document is confidential, is not to be reproduced in whole or in part without our prior written consent and is submitted to you solely for the purposes of this procurement. The information contained in it includes commercially sensitive information belonging to us. We would therefore regard any such information as falling within the exemptions from disclosure contained in Sections 35 and 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014. As such, we would request that we are formally consulted prior to any intended disclosure under Section 35 or 36 (and in any event that we are notified in writing of any such actual disclosure).