Dec. 21, 2020 7:30 am ET
This year, many chief information officers gave priority to the mental health and well-being of their employees more than ever before, offering access to psychological resources and sharing personal experiences to strengthen bonds.
Social distancing, enforced isolation and the stress of working from home while managing oneâs personal life in the midst of a deadly pandemic has taken a toll on mental health. Psychologists say confinement can take a psychological toll, including depression and compulsive disorders, WSJ has previously reported.
âThe new approach for CIOs must be technology plus empathy,â said Carol Juel, CIO of Synchrony Financial, one of 45 information technology executives who responded via email to CIO Journalâs annual end-of-year questionnaire. Employees at Synchrony have been offered virtual mental health counseling services and therapy, and self-care tools such as Talkspace and Sanvello.