Staff wellbeing and mental health in the workplace is more important than ever. Stress, depression, and other mental health conditions are a leading cause of absences at work. A supportive work environment can improve productivity and reduce sick days.
In this guide, we explore staff wellbeing and how employees can be supported. The workplace can be a stressful place and it can negatively impact members of staff.
If an employee’s wellbeing isn’t looked after, their productivity and enthusiasm will be compromised. Emotional wellbeing is just as important as physical health.
Sometimes though, poor mental health can be difficult to spot.
What is Staff Wellbeing?
Staff wellbeing includes supporting all aspects of employee physical, mental, emotional and economic welfare.
These factors can all be adversely impacted from time to time. Whether it is a work related issue or personal, employers have a duty of care to all employees to support their wellbeing at work.
Supporting employees’ wellbeing can create a better and more supportive atmosphere at work.
When staff feel listened to and supported, they will perform better.
Importance of Wellbeing at Work
Poor wellbeing will impact staff performance in the workplace. This has an effect on productivity, as it will lead to sick leave for many workers.
An employer’s intervention early on could help the employee to feel better supported and reduce the chance of time off for mental health reasons being needed.
Being proactive about mental health in the workplace needs to be a priority. Staff who feel listened to and supported will be less likely to need time off. Staff who can talk openly about their mental health create better relationships with their colleagues.
A workplace with a positive approach to its staff’s wellbeing will have lower staff turnover. Unhappy employees with little support will seek work elsewhere.
Offering resources to help with staff morale can help build up their resilience too. Stress is one of the main reasons for sick days in the UK. Recognising that someone is struggling can stop the problem from worsening.
It Doesn’t Have To be Work Related …
It is important to point out that wellbeing isn’t purely about how staff are performing in the workplace.
Sometimes, events happen in our personal lives that can simmer over into our day to day ability to function. We aren’t robots and life does sometimes affect our work rate and productivity.
Personal events that can affect work include; the death of a loved one, anxiety, depression, chronic illness and money worries.
Having a proactive and supportive boss can help employees feel less alone. With many staff still working remotely, it can be easy to feel isolated. An inclusive workplace can allow employees to feel less burdened.
See Also: Feeling Overwhelmed at work.
Staff Wellbeing Ideas
There are practical steps employers can take to improve staff wellbeing. These steps can have a positive impact on the workplace and also help support the employees.
Here are 6 ways to support staff wellbeing at work:-
1. Staff Wellbeing Gifts.
Purchasing thoughtful gifts for employees can greatly improve mental health.
Showing staff how much they are valued and needed will go a long way to making them feel appreciated. Staff being recognised for their commitment and work rate will boost morale and, in turn, help productivity.
2. Have An Open Door Policy.
An employee who feels they have a place to turn to when times get tough will feel less alone.
Making sure that your employees know they can knock on your door for a chat can help reduce anxiety. Or having someone on hand who can provide this support can be a good idea.
This can be a member of staff who is given the responsibility of checking on staff welfare.
3. Ask For Regular Feedback
Getting regular feedback from your staff can help gauge how their wellbeing is being looked after.
This could be done in the form of an anonymous online questionnaire such as Survey Monkey. Keeping them anonymous means individuals are more likely to be open and honest without fear of repercussions.
This sort of excercise performed every few months can help support wellbeing.
4. Keep Workloads Attainable.
Piling work on someone is a surefire way to affect their mental health.
Knowing your staff well enough to gauge how much they can cope with really benefits everyone. Encouraging staff to delegate among themselves can help reduce stress too.
Having to work overtime repeatedly just to complete deadlines will have a direct impact on their health.
5. Make Sure The Workplace Is Inclusive.
Everyone in the workplace should feel comfortable being themselves without fear of prejudice or ridicule.
Inclusion should be high on the list of priorities and practised at all times. This means having zero tolerance for bullying and discrimination.
Any complaints made by staff should be well investigated and repercussions made clear to those in the wrong.
6. Allow A Mental Health Day.
Phoning in sick can be a daunting process for anyone already struggling mentally.
Therefore, if staff say they are taking time off due to stress or anxiety, this should be taken at face value. Let the individual know you are there if they need to talk and make a note of their absence reason.
This can help HR keep an eye on any patterns emerging that suggest employees are struggling.
Wellbeing Training
When it comes to wellbeing in the workplace, managers should do all they can to build on their knowledge. Training is the perfect way to do this and it is a great way to support CPD too.
Structured training to help employers support their staff has so many benefits. It is easy to become wrapped up in work life and fail to notice someone is struggling.
Being aware of the signs and knowing how to promote a healthy mindset is so important. Staff training is the perfect way to achieve this.
Training For Managers
Training managers or line managers in wellbeing and mental health awareness can help improve staff welfare.
There are courses designed to help employers understand mental health. It helps them recognise when someone could be potentially struggling. It covers practical ways of protecting staff wellbeing and keeping it at the forefront of your mind.
Managers who understand this subject more can implement ways to support staff better. This in turn will boost performance, limit absences, and create a more positive and inclusive workplace. Life can get very stressful and sometimes with work on top, it gets too much for people. Being able to see that someone is struggling is an important skill.
Managers have a duty of care towards their employees which doesn’t just cover a physical duty. It includes looking out for their mental health too and creating a positive atmosphere at work.
Mental Health Awareness Course
A mental health awareness course covers a wide range of topics all relevant to supporting staff wellbeing.
It will benefit anyone who oversees a team of employees but anyone in the workplace will take something away from such training. Even the individual who is struggling may find such courses useful.
This course covers topics such as:-
- What mental health and wellbeing mean and their importance.
- How to protect overall wellbeing.
- Different mental health issues.
- How they impact a person’s everyday life.
- Responsibilities of everyone in the workplace.
- How to support good work and life balance.
- Accessible resources to help support staff.
- Mental health workshops and how they can help.
- Exploring changes that can be made to better support staff wellbeing.
- How to write a mental health policy and risk assessment.
- Encouraging healthy lifestyles.
A Happy Workplace is a Healthy Environemnt
Making sure staff feel happy and secure at work can benefit productivity and profitability.
Supporting staff wellbeing does not have to cost a lot of money. Thoughtful management and an open and approachable team atmosphere can be a very effective management tool.
