While days are getting longer, we aren’t quite out of the woods yet, which means employees may be experiencing a type of depression known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Ongoing and changing restrictions have already caused a major shift in our mental health, which may be affecting workplaces more than we realize. Symptoms will likely be amplified by anxiety and isolation arising from “stay home” recommendations and may last beyond the winter months.
Employers may notice that employees are less ambitious or productive this time of year and may shrug it off as them adjusting to getting back into the swing of things. However, employers should be aware that their employees may be experiencing deeper mental health issues.