Wellness in the workplace

According to the Health and Safety Executive, stress, depression and anxiety accounted for 51% of all work-related sickness and 55% of all sick days in 2019-20.

Source: Health & Safety Executive Annual Statistics Report (GB 2020)

Now more than ever there is an increased need for companies to prioritise employee wellbeing. In a survey of more than 40,000 staff across 114 organisations by the mental health charity, Mind, they found that 41% of employees mental health had got worse during the pandemic, with half of respondents stating that work life had interfered with home life.

According to the Chartered Institute of Management (CIM), 44% of managers said their mental health had taken a hit, while 56% thought staff health had suffered.

Having stressed out employees isn’t conducive for productivity, and affects ability to work effectively and collaboratively. Chronic stress over an extended period of time often leads to burnout, a very real potential for those suffering poor mental health. The symptoms include: extreme exhaustion, insomnia, crippling self-doubt and despondency.

So, what can employers do?

“Employers can jump start a stale wellness programme by taking a more holistic perspective and looking at overall wellbeing of mind, body and spirit.”

Source: PWC Health & Wellbeing Survey 2019

Recently it’s been publicised that a few large organisations have offered staff days or weeks off to recover from the pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nike offered staff a week off, Citigroup had a month of zoom-free Fridays, whilst the Scottish Government are piloting a four-day work week.

However, although a break can produce immediate results, forward thinking companies are looking at addressing mental health problems before they become crises.

In January 2021, Deloitte found that poor mental health, costs UK employers up to £45bn a year, and that for every £1 spent implementing mental health interventions, employers got £5 back in reduced absence, presenteeism and staff turnover.

Preventative action and increasing an organisation’s wellbeing offering offers a wise and well-evidenced approach to protect employee mental health and wellbeing.

Implementation of a wellness programme helps create a happier, more focussed and productive workforce. Wellbeing workshops can encourage camaraderie, create connection amongst teams and help build a resilience tool-kit to better cope with the inevitable stresses of a busy working life.

I partner with corporate companies to increase the support available to employees. This can be in their home-based work environments and also in the corporate workspace, offering Corporate yoga and Mindful Movement Method classes, Breath Coaching and Yoga Therapy workshops.

Using a combination of:

• Therapeutic techniques
• Evidence based mindful movement practices and yoga
• Condition-specific breathing techniques
• Positive psychology to encourage behaviour change

I can help create a happier, healthier and more productive workforce.

I am available for corporate events and away days, regular corporate yoga classes, and 1-2-1 or group health coaching.