Many businesses turned to remote working strategies during the pandemic. Some spent lockdown working from their kitchen table, while others enjoyed the comfort of a home office. Working from home has both challenges and advantages. Employees can spend more time at home, save money on commuting and find their own work schedule.
The U.K’s lockdown restrictions were lifted months ago – and yet, many businesses are still working from home. Some companies have adopted a flexible approach so employees can split their time between the office and home. Others have decided to work remotely for the foreseeable future and enjoy a different style of working.
Companies across the U.K have developed initiatives to support employee wellbeing while working from home. It can be lonely to work at home all day, especially if you are used to the buzz of an office.
The women’s skirts brand, Damart, made great efforts to support their employees throughout the pandemic. Damart’s People Director, Claire Allcock, said: “Currently, most of our staff are working from home and research has shown this can have a negative impact on mental health, making additional support increasingly important. We’ve been working hard to encourage colleagues to look after their physical and mental health whilst working from home.
Here are a few other companies with work-from-home benefit schemes.
Havas
The PR and advertising agency, Havas, started a virtual event named ‘Wellness Wednesdays.’ Employees can enjoy guided meditation, reiki, and yoga lessons. They also have access to online coaches, psychotherapists, and weekly HIIT classes. The scheme supports both the physical and mental sides of health and wellness.
GoCompare
GoCompare offers free membership to the Headspace app for all employees. The Headspace app offers guided meditation, podcasts on mental health, and mindful workout sessions. Headspace is an excellent resource to have access to, and it encourages employees to look after their mental wellbeing. Meditation can reduce stress and improve your concentration span if you practice regularly.
TransferWise
TransferWise offers a flexible working model for employees. They can choose to work remotely from anywhere in the world for 90 days a year. The TransferWise team could choose to spend this time working from home or working from the Bahamas. It encourages employees to travel and step outside of their comfort zone while continuing to work.
Google is one of the many companies offering a work from the home bonus. Google offered employees £750 to set up their home office, along with virtual gym classes and cooking demonstrations. Employees can spend this money on an ergonomic desk set up and comfortable working space.
You also could make a big difference to your employee’s professional lives with a few wellbeing perks.
