Wellbeing at Work

For most of us these days it seems increasingly difficult to achieve the allusive work/life balance which we are encouraged through the media to be aiming for.  We all dream of days when we are able to prioritize between our work, career and ambition and spending time with family and friends and doing the things in life which help us to feel fulfilled and happy.

As so many of us are spending more and more time at work, employers are recognising the importance of a happy and well workforce, which in turn aids productivity and reduces absenteeism  and are putting systems and policies in place to support this.

Mindful Employer

Offer support to people with a mental health condition to stay in work, whilst offering businesses the support to continue their deliver and production.

By Being a Mindful Employer you:

•    Show others and your own staff that you are a good employer
•    Expresses your corporate social responsibility
•    Reduces recruitment and training costs
•    Helps towards complying with legislation (e.g. Equality Act &  HSE)
•    Reduces sickness levels
•    Enhances customer service
•    Improves productivity
•    Makes you more attractive to people with mental health issues and others
•    Helps you retain staff who have experienced discrimination in the past
•    Makes yours a healthier workplace

Click here for further information:  www.mindfulemployer.net

How to be mentally healthy at work

The Mind website explains how you can be mentally healthy at work, gives practical suggestions for what you can do and where you can go for support.  There are also information around: work and stress, workplace bullying, your rights at work and useful contacts.

Helping people to find and stay in work

Health, Work and Wellbeing is a cross-government initiative that aims to:  improve the general health and wellbeing of the working-age population support more people with health conditions to stay in work or enter employment visit

www.gov.uk to find out more!

Boost your health at work – NHS Choices

Most of our waking hours are spent at work, which means the working environment can play a big part in our health and wellbeing.  Find out more here!

Health, Work and Wellbeing: Caring for our Future

This document from the www.gov.uk sets out the government’s strategy to improve the health and well-being of working age people. It pulls together the different work going on in this area within government and outlines actions that are in progress under the direction of a joint Senior Officials Unit from the Department of Health, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Health and Safety Executive.

The Work Foundation

The Work Foundation is a British not-for-profit organisation and independent authority providing advice, consultancy and research on the future of work, improving the quality of working life, leadership, economic and organisational effectiveness. The foundation works with government, business organisations, the public sector, and not-for-profit institutions. It operates with opinion formers, policy makers and partner organisations through forums and networks, consultations and publications. Visit: www.theworkfoundation.com

Employers for Work-Life Balance

At Employers for Work-Life Balance, we have first-hand experience of working for good companies and also bad companies. We passionately believe that promoting a positive work-life balance has noticeable benefits for employers and employees alike.

Employees who are able to maintain a work-life balance are more productive, and also more loyal to their employers, saving both time and money on recruiting new staff.

We also aim to keep you up to date with the latest HR industry news, keeping people informed of their rights and responsibilities in the workplace.  Visit:  www.employersforwork-lifebalance.org.uk

What the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Say?

Mental wellbeing at work is determined by the interaction between the working environment, the nature of the work and the individual.

Guidance is offered to employers on promoting mental wellbeing through productive and healthy working conditions: This guidance (issued Nov 2009) is for those who have a direct or indirect role in, and responsibility for, promoting mental wellbeing at work. This includes all employers and their representatives, irrespective of the size of the business or organisation and whether they are in the public, private, or voluntary sectors. It may also be of interest to professionals working in human resources or occupational health, employees, trade unions representatives and members of the public.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work

Wellbeing at Work:  Creating a Positive Work Environment
Wellbeing at work (WAW) continues to increase in importance for employees and employers and across countries. While there are different definitions of what the concept entails, within the European Union (EU) one useful definition acknowledges that well-being is ‘a summative concept that characterises the quality of working lives, including occupational safety and health (OSH) aspects, and it may be a major determinant of productivity at the individual, enterprise and societal levels’.  Read on here!

The NHS Employers way to health and wellbeing

For everything you need to begin your journey including strategy building, evidence gathering and best practice initiatives.

To deliver high quality patient care, the NHS needs staff that are healthy, well and at work. Looking after the health and wellbeing of staff directly contributes to the delivery of quality patient care. Poor workforce health has high and far reaching costs to NHS organisations and ultimately patients.

Visit: www.nhsemployers.org/healthyworkplaces/Way-health-wellbeing

HR leaders talk about the importance of staff well-being and how it can improve sickness absence and productivity. Find out more at www.nhsemployers.org/wellbeing

About the Public Health Responsibility Deal

Public health is everyone’s responsibility and there is a role for all of us, working in partnership, to tackle these challenges.

Too many of us are eating too much, drinking too much and not doing enough physical activity. Creating the right environment can empower and support people to make informed, balanced choices that will help them lead healthier lives.  Read more here!

Sign up and pledge to improve public health in England and see what other organisations are doing!

The Bank Workers Charity

This charity helps current and former bank workers and their families across the UK. They do this by providing information, advice, expert support services and in some cases, financial assistance.

This Bank Workers Charity Guide provides some guidance to help you achieve good wellbeing and directs you to further information and support for you.

Help Line Number:  0800 0234 834

Police Mutual Foundation Wellbeing Zone

The Wellbeing Zone aims to give you and your family access to a range of professionally constructed health and fitness programmes, covering all aspects of wellbeing, including physical fitness, stress levels, weight management, healthy eating and access to expert advice:

•    Create your free profile
•    Set your healthy life goals
•    Follow your new plan

Click here!  www.policemutualfoundation.wellbeingzone.co.uk