Just under half of PA Lifeโs readers are feeling โokayโ during the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Our survey asked about the strain the current situation is putting on readersโ mental health and wellbeing. Some 49% said they felt okay, with one EA revealing: โI actually feel more relaxed, as Iโm not getting the interruptions. Life isn’t 9-5 anymore and office work doesn’t need to be. I have been keeping a record of my hours so I fulfil my contracted hours for the week. These might be early mornings or late nights – but it’s working.โ
Sadly, over 27% claimed to โnot feel okayโ, with the remainder admitting to having โsome good days and some bad daysโ. โMainly Iโm doing well, but I have moments each week when I feel scared about the future and anxious about how long we all have to live and work like this,โ offered one respondent.
42% revealed that they are exercising โ including running, virtual classes, yoga and more โ to help ease anxiety, with 29% enjoying a daily walk. Other stress relievers listed included meditation, gardening, reading, music, hobbies and playing with the children. โAvoiding the newsโ is also a tactic being employed, along with Team PA Lifeโs own favourite โ Cooking & Eating.
The majority of PAs and EAs who took part in the survey โ 89% – reported that their executives and companies are helping staff with wellbeing during the lockdown, with activities including:
– Hosting regular Zoom calls and keeping in touch
– Providing access to webinars and other information on wellbeing
– Encouraging flexible working hours
– Virtual coffee mornings and weekly โget-togethersโ
– Offering free subscriptions to online fitness classes
But thereโs more that can be done in some areas:
โI’m one of the companyโs staff who doesnโt have an ‘office’, so Iโm working on a dining room table. There isn’t the room for an office, but I will be receiving an ergonomic chair shortly. We have been given up to ยฃ250 to purchase equipment, but once you have purchased a monitor, headphones, adaptor, it doesn’t leave enough to get a decent chair nor a keyboard. ยฃ250 is a reasonable amount, but not enough to get the bare necessities. I believe those of us lower down the food chain should have been given more to purchase what is required. It’s great seeing the execs in their offices whilst we’re perched on the corner of a table!โ
โAs someone working flat out and having more work than before, additional recognition or annual leave/bonus would be nice. Those staff furloughed are getting 100% pay for doing nothing and I’m working harder than ever!โ
โBetter tech training. Better equipment to use at home.โ
โHighlight to the whole team that it’s okay to leave their desks when they need to – everyone is paranoid about appearing ‘present’.โ
โNot pushing for more work because travel time has been reduced.โ
What are you finding hard about working life under lockdown? Email Lisa.Carter@mimrammedia.com
