According to Mind charity, one in every four people are battling a mental health issue and while there are many causes, workplace stress can often be a trigger. Sometimes, it’s a case of adding pressure to a pre-existing issue, but for others, it can be the root cause of their problem. Either way, as an employer you have a legal responsibility to support them.
Especially with the effects of COVID-19, your employees are going to need more support than ever as we return to the workplace. So if you're looking for the right time to implement #wellnesswednesdays, it's now.
Sometimes, half the battle is recognising that poor mental health is an issue within your workplace. Common signs can include increased absenteeism, poor concentration or low morale across the workforce. There are a number of actions that you can put in place to help your employees as they return to work post-coronavirus, one of which is #wellnesswednesdays. You may have heard of the concept before on social media platforms, but what started as a campaign to keep yourselves healthy and happy is now a global phenomenon, encouraging people to put their health first.
#wellnesswednesdays are a great opportunity for employers to get on board with tackling mental health issues, putting forward positive initiatives that emphasise the importance of giving employees time to focus on themselves when at work, wherever 'work' may be. We all know how important it is to have some ‘me time’, a chance to step away from stressful situations and regroup your thoughts, which is arguably more essential than ever when working in a pressured environment.
Research shows that providing your employees with a workplace wellness programme positively impacts your business in more ways than one. From a more productive working ethic to reduced absenteeism and improved employees mental health.
UnitedHealthcare’s 2018 survey investigated the effects of workplace wellness and found that:
Change doesn’t have to be drastic.
We suggest setting just one day a week aside where you directly encourage your employees to focus on their mental health – and Wellness Wednesday has a great ring to it. Here are just a few of our favourite #wellnesswednesday ideas to get you started:
Whilst we can't be sure when social distancing measures will be lifted, we can be sure that one day they will be. When that day comes, why not try one of the following...
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