Covid-related anxiety and distress in the workplace: A guide for employers and employees: Covid and anxiety in the workplace

As Covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased, and in some cases temporarily re-introduced, people will experience many different emotional responses to what is happening, whether returning to workplaces after furlough or a period of remote working, or continuing to work in the same setting as they did during lockdown. Each employee will have their own specific concerns regarding their work or personal experience. Feeling worried, concerned or anxious is understandable in a situation that is changing and uncertain. These are common responses and show increased vigilance which helps protect us from harm.
How individual employees and employers deal with these feelings can affect their transition into new ways of working, as well as their wellbeing and performance in the immediate and long term.
We describe SHARE, a psychologically informed approach developed for this document to help employers and employees deal with Covid-related anxiety and distress and adapt to new ways of working. This document offers practical steps and ideas for creating healthy, sustainable working conditions.