Supporting your employees in unprecedented times

In the current unprecedented times, HR professionals in businesses around the world find themselves at the frontline in the workplace. Questions, concerns and worries about what this all means for employees will be coming fast and even companies who are most prepared are unlikely to have all the answers.
 

For many employees, naturally their priority and main worry will be about their own health and that of their families and loved ones. And with the global Covid-19 situation constantly changing and differing advice being given, many people are anxious about what they should do to safeguard their health and wellbeing.

As the government focuses its resources and efforts on supporting those worst affected by the pandemic, many employees will still want to be able to speak to a doctor to get medical advice and reassurance.

Not forgetting those colleagues within the workforce already experiencing health conditions before Coronavirus appeared on the scene. The current situation is likely to be even more inconvenient and worrying. Their ability to be able to continue to get medical advice, treatment and medication may be affected by current events.

Several clients have already been in touch with us to find out what options are available to help them. Here are the 2 most discussed topics and we thought it might be useful to set out a couple of solutions that are available, importantly, and easy for employees to access in the current climate.

Virtual General Practitioners (GPs)

One tool that HR teams want to consider now is virtual GPs. It allows patients to consult a doctor without going through long waiting hours and travel time.

Our virtual clinics for MediHub clients couldn’t have come at a better time. With medication delivered to patients after consultation, this gives them the convenience and peace of mind that they can get the advice and support they want, when they need it.

This not only protects them as individuals but also supports Singapore’s wider social distancing efforts as well.

Mental Health

We expect to see mental health to become a top priority for businesses over the coming months. While some employees might have initially welcomed the chance to work from home, the novelty is likely to wear off after a while. Social isolation and ‘cabin fever’ are a genuine risk to people’s mental wellbeing. Offering your workforce practical ways to look after their mental wellbeing will be more essential than ever.

Helping your employees to manage their mental wellness.

Whether working from home or resuming work back in the office, mental wellness is essential for employees to achieve their full potential both professionally and personally.

We’ve collated some resources on mental wellness which may be useful for your employees:

• Singapore Association for Mental Health – Understanding Mental Wellness
• Singapore Association for Mental Health – Understanding Mental Illness

 
We are committed to supporting our clients and the wider HR community.

We are proud to have adopted Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH) as our charity partner. For more information about SAMH, please visit https://www.samhealth.org.sg/.