COVID-19 impacts can be mental if not physical
By now, the physical toll from the COVID-19 virus has been well documented, but it’s also taking a mental toll on employees.
New research by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that up to 35% of U.S. employees have struggled with depression as they live through and worry about the pandemic.
Employees report symptoms including feeling like failures or letting family members down, hopelessness, little interest or pleasure in pursuing activities and feeling tired. The society urges employers to keep in regular touch with employees who may be working from home and struggling with isolation. It also urges referring employees to counseling services that might be available through their jobs or in the communities where they live.
A study by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in March found that 60% of those surveyed say worry about the coronavirus seriously impacts them daily. It further found that 57% think the virus will affect family finances and 68% think the virus will have long-lasting impacts on the economy.
Washington Retail employs Rick Means, Director of Safety & Education, to assist companies with safety plans or topics for monthly safety meetings. Reach Rick at 360-200-6454 or [email protected].