The pandemic that once caught businesses and employees off guard continues to leave a lasting impact even in 2025. Many organizations were forced to adapt quickly—placing some employees on unpaid leave, letting others go, or making difficult decisions like cutting workdays and scaling back operations. Whether working on-site or remotely, employees experienced anxieties and stress, and leaders themselves also felt the toll on their well-being.
Today, while workplaces have evolved with hybrid setups and digital tools, the importance of protecting employee well-being and maintaining a healthy work-life balance remains stronger than ever. As an employee or a leader, taking care of yourself and supporting your team is crucial to staying resilient, balanced, and effective in these still-changing times.
Ensure that you create a regular touchpoint schedule with your team, especially if they are working from home. You may opt for a short, daily scheduled touchpoint every day before the team starts their day. This practice helps manage expectations and fosters clear communication within the team.
Through this, you connect with them to know how they are doing and what concerns they need to be addressed. When your team members share their thoughts, ideas, and situations with you during touchpoints, appreciate it and thank them. Practice active listening and empathy, too. This approach helps manage availability and set clear expectations for the team.
With all the uncertainties happening in organizations, it is easy for employees to come up with assumptions if they do not know what is going on. Avoid this scenario by communicating with your team clearly and frequently. Update them on what is happening with the company, ask them if they have questions, and answer those truthfully. This simple tip will create an atmosphere of trust among the group. It can also help your team members to feel comfortable amidst the volatile environment and maintain healthy work-life boundaries. Additionally, encourage team members to communicate boundaries effectively to ensure a balanced work environment.
Your influence as a leader is a powerful tool—support your team by spreading optimism and positivity instead of adding to the stress that everyone is feeling. Share your hope that all will be well, even amidst all the negative things that are happening in the work environment. Provide a strong support system for each other so that you can lift up anyone who feels down. Through this, you improve your and your team's mental health, overall employee well-being, and contribute to their personal and professional fulfillment.
Acknowledge and reward your team for their hard work and dedication. This advice is a sure way to keep them energized at work and increase work satisfaction. Rewarding people is not limited to money. You can acknowledge someone for their efforts and good work by recognizing the person during meetings. You can even be creative in how to reward them, so it pays to know your team well. As a team leader, you should know what they will appreciate to reward them effectively.
It is easy for employees to overwork now because of the demands to keep the company afloat, especially for employees working from home. Respect boundaries by making sure not to call or message after work hours unless urgently needed. If the situation calls for you to reach out to them, apologize as you take a few minutes of their precious personal time. Encourage setting clear boundaries and communicating the importance of maintaining healthy boundaries to prevent burnout. This practice helps team members establish and maintain boundaries effectively, contributing to a better work-life balance.
Your influence as a leader is a powerful tool—support your team by spreading optimism and positivity instead of adding to the stress that everyone is feeling. Share your hope that all will be well, even amidst all the negative things that are happening in the work environment. Provide a strong support system for each other so that you can lift up anyone who feels down. Through this, you improve your and your team's mental health, overall employee well-being, and contribute to their personal and professional fulfillment.
Another way to support your team is by developing their skills, especially if they are assigned a new role or task. You may develop their skills in various techniques like coaching, shadowing, providing them with training, giving them a job buddy, or creating opportunities where they can try out a new task. Do not let your team members sink or swim. As a leader, you should set them up for success. Consider introducing time management strategies to help them improve their efficiency and work-life integration. Additionally, teach effective delegation techniques to help team members manage their workload more efficiently.
Do not just think of your team members as people who will be doing the job. Build rapport, connect, and build relationships with them too. Developing friendly relationships with colleagues and team members can make employees feel happier and contribute to a supportive work culture. Good relationships with the people you work with can even boost innovation and creativity in the workplace! It is also a good way to improve mental health at work and enhance overall employee well-being.
Most employees work for a minimum of eight hours a day, sometimes even longer. Do not let your team members get dull by just doing work all the time—they need to be refreshed too! As leaders, advocate for positive work-life boundaries with your team to prevent burnout and push retention and engagement. Let your staff use their leave if you can be sure that no pending work will be left. Employers must process PTO so employees have time to refresh. You'll get to see that once your team members have time off, they will come back more enthusiastic. Encourage flexible work arrangements when possible to help employees manage their personal and professional responsibilities effectively. This approach helps in setting and maintaining personal boundaries, which is crucial for a healthy work-life balance.
Lastly, as leaders, you need to take care of yourselves too! As they say, you cannot pour from an empty vessel. Make sure you protect your own well-being so that you can support other people effectively too. Have a solid support system, stay healthy, and see the more profound meaning of everything you are doing for your team and the organization. Prioritize self-care practices and stress management techniques to maintain your physical health and personal well-being. Recognize your personal limits and be prepared to address boundary challenges that may arise in your leadership role.
More than ever, we need each other to stay strong as we face each day's hurdles. As a leader, make sure that you support your team members well, and they will undoubtedly back you up as well. By implementing these tips and focusing on employee well-being, work-life boundaries, and effective time management, you can create a supportive work culture that helps your team thrive even in challenging times. Remember, setting and maintaining healthy boundaries is key to achieving a sustainable work-life balance and ensuring both personal and professional fulfillment.