COVID-19 Organisation Wellbeing Survey reveals how South African employees are coping

12 707 South Africans responded to a series of Pulse Surveys to highlight the factors most affecting Organisational Wellbeing during this time. These surveys were developed by Mindset Management in collaboration with a team of I/O Psychologists from different organisations.

Employee wellbeing & health

Covid-19 has brought wellbeing and health to the forefront of many organisations. This is a stark reality confirmed by the survey, which designates wellbeing as the number one challenge facing employees. When asked about their feelings of anxiety, 67% of respondents said that they sometimes feel anxious, while 24% feel anxious all the time. Given that employees are experiencing stressors unlike they’ve faced before, it is unsurprising that only 41% indicated being able to fully focus on work.

With 90% of employees experiencing anxiety and 59% struggling to focus on work, the need for care and support is clear. Managers have an opportunity to make a huge difference here, by leading with empathy and transparency and by intentionally engaging their people – individually and as a team.

Adapting to new ways of working

While the majority of respondents seem to be coping well (45%) or reasonably well (50%) with remote working, many are facing new personal challenges. Being able to strike a balance between work and life, whether to care for loved ones or disconnect after-hours, appears to be an ongoing struggle.

Executing common goals through effective teamwork is a challenge that many organisations face at the best of times and is highlighted in the survey as an area for continued improvement. When it comes to feeling supported by co-workers, 45% indicated that they rarely or never feel supported, while 47% believe that their co-workers are not doing what is expected of them. As teams adapt to remote collaboration, the need for high-levels of cohesion, goal alignment, planning, mutual support and accountability becomes increasingly important.

However, what is encouraging is that 53% of respondents indicated that their productivity levels remained the same and 37% found an increase in their productivity.

These findings suggest that under the guide of effective virtual leadership, individual and team performance can be sustained and enhanced. To ensure that this is not short-lived, managers will need to pay close attention to strengthening the relations within their teams, increasing the effectiveness of team meetings, providing structured opportunities for collaboration and engagement and enhancing communication.

Management support

As the trend towards remote work grows so does the need for effective virtual leadership. As such, it is reassuring that this driver of organisational wellbeing scored high overall, with 64% of respondents stating that they feel completely supported by their managers. Strong support from managers, particularly in times of change, is critical to helping employees stay focused and productive while helping them cope with the feelings that come with change.

However, what is concerning is that only 48% of respondents feel confident that they can a productive conversation with their manager if feeling overwhelmed. In uncertain and challenging circumstances, employees rely on this confidence as they work to adapt to the new demands.

It is clear that leaders have a vital role to play in supporting employees and organisations through this crisis. Where they succeed, organisations will be better equipped to weather this storm and emerge more resilient and agile.

Contact Kim van Schoor on 084 442 5619 or kim@ftgsa.co.za to explore how we can equip your leaders with the mindset, skillset and toolset to respond to the challenges of remote work, navigate the virtual landscape with greater effectiveness and enhance team performance. This series of surveys is available free of charge to organisations of any size. Visit our website https://freetogrow.com/covid-19-pulse-surveys/ for a demo or to run your survey today.