Promoting mental health in remote teams
What companies can do in practice — and how Nilo supports us at KUNO
Remote work is here to stay. But with this new flexibility comes new challenges — particularly for mental health. At KUNO, we work from the start Remote First. We founded our company in the midst of the corona pandemic — at a time when flexibility, digitization and spatial separation were already a reality.
What transformation meant for others was the starting point for us. However, many of our team members have experienced this change in other organizations or even helped shape it themselves — and are bringing this experience to our work today.
At the same time, we are aware that remote first does not mean “remote only.” For our colleagues in Berlin, it is important to us to also provide a small office where personal encounters are possible — whether for exchange, workshops or simply a joint lunch.
In this article, we share how we promote mental health in our distributed team — and what central role our partner plays in this Nilo plays.
Why is mental health particularly challenging in remote teams?
Remote work offers many benefits: more flexibility, less commuting time, concentrated work. At the same time, it can also make you lonely. When there is no spontaneous exchange in the coffee kitchen, when work and private life become blurred, when team members only see each other in meeting calls — that can be stressful.
Especially in remote teams, it is therefore important to actively create structures that promote mental stability — and to live a culture in which psychological well-being is also a natural part of everyday working life.
Our measures at KUNO: structure, proximity and openness
As an HR and payroll service agency, we not only work for our customers with a high level of structure — we also live this internally. That is why we focus specifically on formats and tools that strengthen cooperation in everyday remote life:
Daily team check-ins
Our teams meet almost every morning: to exchange ideas, to prioritize, to support each other. This helps you to start the day in a focused manner — and creates reliability in everyday life.
1:1 with manager & mentoring
Regular one-on-one meetings with managers are standard for us. In addition, there is a mentor for all colleagues — for professional sparring and an open ear, detached from hierarchy.
Social formats despite distance
- Collaborative co-working sessions
- Monthly Allhands
- Monthly appointment to discuss the results of the monthly eNPS survey
- Regular coffee catch-ups with management (open door, no obligation)
- Open exchange rounds for cross-team questions & learnings — and if there is some time left, feel free to play a virtual game to break things up
Clear accessibility rules
- Working hours are visible in the calendar, focus times are blocked
- No emails to the team after 18:00
- No spontaneous chat calls without first “knocking”
- Each person can store their preferred accessibility in their profile
For us, these rules are not a “nice-to-have” but a deliberate framework for respectful cooperation — regardless of working time model or position.
Best practices for mental health in remote setups
Here are a few principles that we derive from our practice:
- Routines provide support.
Structured check-ins, meeting rules and reliable appointments create orientation and team spirit. - Accessibility requires clarity.
Flexibility does not mean availability around the clock. Agreements help to respect borders. - Leaders don't have to “solve,” but they have to be open.
It is not about diagnostics, but their task is to listen carefully, to take signals seriously and, if necessary, to provide support. - Take anonymous feedback seriously.
Our monthly eNPS — anonymous, with an open comment field — is discussed very transparently within the team and is directly incorporated into adjustments. - Enable community — even digitally.
Peer support, mentoring, shared learning spaces and an occasional game to break things up strengthen belonging, even across distances. - Team events in person are not to be missed.
Regular meetings in one place are essential for trust, motivation and team building. At KUNO, we organize team days in Berlin — with workshops, joint activities and, of course, good food. This not only strengthens the sense of togetherness, but also brings important impulses for collaboration back into everyday remote life.
Nilo as a strong partner in the background
For over a year has Nilo Health our mental health partner — firmly anchored in everyday working life and consciously integrated into our processes.
What Nilo makes possible at KUNO:
- Individual coaching with coaches and psychologists
- Digital group sessions (e.g. resilience, setting limits, focus)
- Guided meditations & self-learning formats
- Dashboard for HR for anonymous usage evaluation
- Use when onboarding new colleagues — accessible from the start
nilo is not an add-on — it is an integral part of our team culture. Nilo is regularly recommended, particularly in mentoring processes or when faced with specific challenges.
effect: Since the introduction of nilo, our eNPS has improved significantly — up to 100% positive rating with over 70% participation rate.
Find out more in the video:
In this short video, our CEO Erica answers a few questions about the introduction of nilo at KUNO:
Find out more on LinkedIn
In our joint LinkedIn series with Nilo we share specific insights into our work, our attitude and our HR structures. We would be happy if you would take a look and join the discussion!
➡️ About the article: LinkedIn post
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conclusion
Mental health is not an “additional task” in remote teams, but a central foundation. Anyone who takes them seriously not only strengthens the team — but also the performance and innovative strength of the entire company.
Tools like Nilo make it possible to make mental health accessible digitally — professionally, confidentially and flexibly. What counts is integration into everyday life — not as an exception, but as a standard.
💌If KUNO can help your company find and introduce suitable formats for your team, feel free to write to us at
📩 contact@kuno.io or
📅 Book an appointment directly on our website. calendars
