Tag Archives: Workplace

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Are you taking the time to ask your staff how they’re feeling?

If staff members are off sick with potential mental health problems, how often do you think employers take time out of their schedules to ask them how they are? The answer is not enough.

If you’re one of those employers, you may notice the difference that simply asking can have on your team members, and their overall attendance and productivity levels.

According to recent reports, unsupportive managers can result in employees taking an extra 4.1 days off a year. Not only that, but people with depression were also found to take more days off if their managers did not seem empathetic. Increasing absence rates affects both the employee and the business, but is a detrimental figure that can easily be avoided.

Mind, the mental health charity, found that 56 per cent of employers said they would like to do more to improve staff wellbeing but don’t feel they have the right training or guidance.

Well, that’s where we can help.

Although the Healthy Worker arrives equipped with polices and refreshing consultancy services to help management improve well-being in the workplace, there’s nothing that helps more than taking the time to ensure you are caring about your staff and showing them that you’re putting important strategies in place to support mental health.

Why not try out some of these small, but effective changes:

 

Have an open-door policy

If your staff feel you are more open to having a chat, they won’t be more likely to bottle up any issues they may be having, whether it is work related or not. It can be difficult if you are time restricted or don’t have much face to face time with your employees as you’d like, but making small gestures to let them know you’re there, whether it’s via phone call or a one-on-one chat, can make all the difference in ensuring your staff know you value their feelings.

 

Dedicate your own ‘well-being champion’

As previously mentioned, sometimes it can be hard as a manager with time-restrictions. But this is where our expert knowledge can help! The Healthy Worker can support your staff to become ‘well-being champions’, a designated representative who will have the know-how to support staff with any issues they may be facing and know how to help or guide them through it.

They can work alongside HR, liaising or signposting staff, and be a direct link between the staff and managers to relay any issues in a secure and professional manner.

 

Break the taboo that surrounds mental health

If your office knows that you can talk about mental health openly and freely, then there won’t be so much pressure when somebody is dealing with something they perhaps feel awkward about. Break down barriers by implementing structures that allow staff to be open and honest and not feel mental health is such a taboo subject.

 

Get in contact with us with to update your work place policies

Yes, that’s right, here at The Healthy Worker we can provide a range of courses such as; Managing Sickness Absence Workshop for management, Managing stress in the workplace, personal health and coaching and an overall healthy worker course. We will work together with

you and your business to ensure you are up to date with any mental health work place policies and help motivate your staff by knowing they’re working in a safe and healthy work environment.

 

If staff attendance levels are a concern, or you want to revamp your businesses mental health policies, get in touch with us on 01684 231461 or email info@thehealthyworker.co.uk.

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How do businesses benefit from employing a dedicated Wellbeing Champion?

In the last five years, we have seen a positive rise in the number of employers shining a light on wellbeing in the workplace, including mental wellbeing.

 

More organisations are sitting up and taking notice, recognising the direct link between employee health, happiness and levels of productivity.

 

One way that companies, such as Virgin, have shown commitment to this is through the recruitment of Wellbeing Champions.

 

So, what is the role of a Wellbeing Champion?

Wellbeing Champions are members of staff who have the aptitude and training to serve as an inspirational voice to promote the wellness of every person within an organisation.

 

Their work is often alongside HR colleagues, with Wellbeing Champions contributing to the development and implementation of a health and wellbeing strategy, instilling wellbeing into company culture and engaging with employees to promote healthy lifestyles and positive mental health both inside and outside of the work place.

 

Why is this a vital role?

Every year in the UK alone, a staggering 70 million working days are lost due to mental health problems, costing employers over £2 billion.

 

Research by Time to Change revealed that one in ten people have resigned from a job due to stress and that a further one in four had thought about it.

 

A national survey carried out by the charity Mind also found that 90% of working people who suffered from a mental health problem told their employer they were suffering from a physical illness instead and research suggests that only 50% of GP ‘sick’ notes for those with mental health reasons for absence actually reflect this.

 

By developing Wellbeing Champions, businesses can demonstrate that staff are a top priority. It provides a safe place for staff to say “I’m struggling” or “I need support” and encourages people to speak openly about their mental health without fear of judgement.

 

Organisations can also benefit in other ways, such as improving employee engagement as well as the recruitment and retention of staff.

 

As more and more companies invest in the health of their team, it highlights that workplace wellbeing is no longer a nice benefit- it’s a vital part of working life. All measures which help with reducing stigma and take us closer to ending mental health discrimination are valuable.

 

Interested in finding out more? The Healthy Worker is hosting a series of workshops including one dedicated to developing Wellbeing Champions in the workplace. Contact us today for more details.

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It’s time to start the discussion about mental health in the workplace.

2018’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Week was certainly an important one: Mental health within the workplace.

 

Currently, it’s estimated stress and mental health problems cost the UK economy nearly £100 Billion per year, so breaking the stigma by being open to mental health and with a willingness to talk about it can certainly help.

 

Mental ill health unfortunately is not only a UK, but a worldwide issue. It impacts the economy each year through costs to employers (lower productivity, sickness absence, staff turnover), and to the government (health and welfare benefits, reduced tax revenue); where over the last year alone, 12.5 million working days were lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety. So, what do we need to do to help lower this figure and how can we help improve both our own and our employee’s well-being?

 

There are a number of small steps to help improve mental well-being at work, such as taking the time to reflect on what causes you the most stress within the workplace, and thereafter taking the steps to reduce or eradicate such situations from happening in the future.

 

Here at The Healthy Worker, we have worked hard to develop mental well-being management solutions for individuals of varying levels – from management teams to employees:

 

If you’re a business owner…

Our services can be more beneficial to your company than you realise, particularly as mental health issues are on the rise. Supporting individual staff members and providing an open space for them to review their situation and talk through our Personal & Health Coaching sessions can be vital for their well-being.

In the discussions, we will support your staff through the challenges they face or finding direction when the pathway isn’t clear. Personal coaching is extremely effective as it pinpoints the exact need and solution and can help your team members reflect on what causes their stress and the steps they can take to prevent negative feelings from taking over.

 

For management teams…

We run several courses for your management teams to participate in. Mental Health Awareness is of course a popular and important choice within management teams. To supplement this our ‘Healthy Worker Course’, provides as a multi-component health improvement programme – endorsed as best practice by the World Health Organisation. Multi-component programmes are useful as factors are often linked, such as mental wellbeing, smoking or alcohol use, or the effects of diet and exercise on our health.

The course boasts fabulous delegate feedback and a high-quality evaluation, in which it was found to reduce absence days by 41% and episodes of absence by 25%. In addition, improved physical activity levels, healthier diet, enhanced mood and openness to change at work were all reported positively, with lasting effect.

 

Or perhaps a colleague…

You may have noticed that a colleague has been quiet for the last few weeks and doesn’t seem themselves. It all starts with asking someone how they are doing in a warm and authentic way – giving them a chance to realise that you are being sincere and friendly. Perhaps invite them out for a coffee break or take them out for lunch, showing somebody that someone wants to listen can help prevent long-term damage.

 

Implementing workplace wellbeing can take time, whether it’s for your business, or the team you are responsible for. The end result however can mean a positive atmosphere, improved employee engagement, higher productivity levels and financial gain, which is good for you and your staff!

 

If you would like to know more about the services we provide here at The Healthy Worker, please feel free to get in touch on 01684 231461 or email info@thehealthyworker.co.uk.

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How can you motivate and encourage your employees?

Are your employees fired up and passionate about what they do? Do they show enthusiasm to start the day and hit their targets? In any business, there will be days where employees don’t have that get-up-and-go attitude, but if you’re staff are disengaged more often than not, it can have a significant impact on productivity.

 

Successfully improving wellbeing and motivating your employees is not as challenging as you may think – even small changes can make a big difference in staff morale. Here are 7 techniques that Managers and Supervisors can use in your organisation to encourage their teams:

 

1. Acknowledging achievements.

It’s important to recognise the hard work that staff put in on a daily basis to help the company achieve its objectives. Something as simple as giving praise and saying thank you for a completed job or even a good idea will mean more to a team member than you might think and is one of the most effective ways to give your employees a boost in morale. Don’t forget, being positive with others who have done a good job can help your wellbeing as well as theirs!

 

2. Demonstrate trust.

Trust forms the basis of our relationships which are a key component to our wellbeing, and a key factor in employee performance. When staff don’t feel trusted by their superiors, workplace engagement often suffers, but on the flip-side, employees who do feel trusted tend to be higher performers and go the extra mile. Let your staff take the lead on projects or campaigns, present new ideas in meetings or manage communications with clients. The more confidence you have in your team, the more confident they will be in taking on new challenges and pushing themselves to learn new things. Allowing others to take the lead can also help your work – home balance.

 

3. Encourage personal development.

When employees learn new skills it not only benefits them and their wellbeing, but also the company. Letting your staff know that you’re willing to invest in their professional growth is a great source of motivation. Some businesses will support their staff financially, offering further education or courses outside of work. However, if you can’t offer financial aid for self-improvement, you can still be flexible and allow staff to add webinars, courses or seminars into their schedules – within reason of course.

 

4. Promote from within.

For many business owners, it’s important to fill the company with hard working, knowledgeable people who will help to achieve long-term growth and while sometimes a role will require external talent, it’s important to look inwards and promote current staff. Promoting from within will not only strengthens your company culture by retaining the best employees, but it sends a message to everyone in the organisation that you are willing to reward hard work and offer opportunities for progression.

 

5. Be flexible.

We’re all looking to strike the perfect work-home balance, so the ability to offer your employees flexibility in the workplace is invaluable. Some of your staff may be parents or grandparents looking after children, others may have clubs or other commitments outside of work; it’s important to remember that everyone is different and juggling a variety of things in their personal lives which impact their wellbeing and ultimately their engagement. Offering employees flexible hours or the ability to work from home for example are great ways to boost this.

 

6. Have some fun.

Maintaining a positive working environment isn’t just about what goes on in the office – there are numerous benefits to team building and social interactions between colleagues outside of work. Organise office parties, birthday celebrations, dinners and nights-out or even off-site work activities. A change of scenery and social time allows for colleagues to bond, get to know each other and promotes collaborative working. Building good relationships is a key component of our wellbeing too.

 

7. Talk about mental health.

The workplace is an important place to have a conversation about mental health, but sometimes it can be difficult for staff to open up and discuss it with co-workers or managers. Employers need to show they’re open to talking about mental health and that staff won’t be discriminated against or judged because of any mental illness. Whether it’s stress in the workplace or a member of your team is struggling with depression, making your workplace a comfortable environment can help employees feel happier, more confident and more productive.

 

Every business is different and it’s important to find the right motivational methods that work for you and your staff. Focusing on those methods which improve wellbeing is a great start and ask your staff through focus groups or surveys, about what’s important to them. Then, by making some small changes in your workplace, you can ensure your staff feel inspired, motivated and look forward to every Monday morning!