The Moodbeam wristband, resembling a fitness tracker, is
designed to help employers monitor the emotional well-being of
remote workers. The device features two buttons: yellow for
happy and blue for sad, allowing employees to log their feelings
throughout the workweek. Managers can then access this data via
an online dashboard, gaining insights into their team’s emotional
state. Originally created by co-founder Christina Colmer
McHugh to help her daughter communicate feelings, Moodbeam
aims to bridge the gap left by in-person interactions, giving
employers a way to “check in” with staff working from home.
One user of the Moodbeam wristband, the UK charity
Brave Mind, has found it helpful. Trustee Paddy Burtt noted that
an employee’s struggle with workload and disillusionment only
came to light through the data, underscoring the device’s
potential to surface unseen issues. With mental health issues like
anxiety and depression costing the global economy
approximately $ 1 trillion annually in lost productivity, tools like
Moodbeam are gaining traction. Studies indicate a growing need
for mental health support, especially as remote work and blurred
work-life boundaries exacerbate stress.
Other companies are also exploring solutions. In San
Francisco, Modern Health connects employees to mental health
resources, including therapy and meditation, based on a brief
questionnaire. Similarly, Microsoft has developed a “virtual
commute” feature within Teams, prompting users to reflect on
their day and their schedule tasks, and to meditate to help
distinguish between work and personal time. As more people
work remotely, these innovations aim to provide accessible
support for mental resilience and emotional well-being.
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