Dr Ben Sinclair, Founder – Dr Finlay’s Private Practice
A Wake-Up Call for Employers
During the pandemic, essential workers excluded, we were required to leave the workplace and work from home.
In the UK, this created challenges for ‘presenteeism’ business culture, which relied on being able to mingle with colleagues at work.
Lockdown ended in 2020. Fast-forward 5 years. Today employers face fresh challenges: raising the next generation of business leaders who haven’t experienced the benefits of contact time in the workplace and being around their seniors.
Over 20 million people (40%) work from home. And 3 in 10, (29%) are hybrid, both working from home (WFH) and at the office. But many ‘Gen Z-ers’ are bucking the WFH trend, wanting to return to the office.
This signals a big wake-up call for employers. They must address the needs of Gen Z to be present at work with all of the benefits that brings.
A Shock for Employees
If you’ve been WFH, or hybrid working, you may have suffered from loneliness, isolation or lack of routine.
This may impact weight management, sleep, mood and motivation, also negatively affecting your work performance.
As a doctor I know significant challenges exist when re-engaging with face-to-face culture. It may shock your system to be around people again.
Focus on building new health habits, including exercise, before, during or after work, and plan healthy nutrition options as your habits will change due to your new environment.
Medical Needs May Change
As a business owner, I know first-hand the challenges of remotely maintaining a team spread nationwide. It’s tough balancing communications with meeting your WFH team’s emotional needs.
Employers can feel tempted to continue being distant and not give your face-to-face time. However, your employees need the reassurance of your presence. They benefit from the unconscious mentoring that occurs when you are more present.
As a CEO, MD or HR Director, it’s important to acknowledge that the medical needs of staff members may have changed after working from home. Post-pandemic, some may have worsening chronic health conditions, which will need additional support.
At Dr Finlay’s Private Practice, we deploy a team who work with businesses to create positive performing workplace cultures, and our organisational and coaching psychologist Dr Jared Watson has wide experience of managing teams under pressure post-pandemic.
Give ‘More Than A Nod’ to Future Leaders
Be in no doubt: ‘The Office’ pre-pandemic and post-lockdown are vastly different.
Remember, Gen Z prioritise wellbeing, health and socialising over rapid career progression or commitment.
To grow the next tranche of leaders, employers must give more than ‘just a nod’ towards their agenda to retain and maintain them. This generation’s priorities are very different from yours.
Employers’ workplace culture will quickly coalesce around face-to-face activities. So, don’t be fooled into thinking that mimicking this using Teams or Zoom online will cut it.
Got a business and health-related question for Dr Ben? Drop him a line on drben@businessinfluencer.co.uk
* The author, Dr Ben Sinclair, (MBChB MRCGP) has been a GP for nearly 20 years, and is Founder of award-winning Dr Finlay’s Private Practice, which runs clinics nationally online, and has surgeries in the West Midlands (Birmingham), London and Leeds.