Think workplace wellbeing is a nice-to-have? Think again. Because in a post-Covid world, few things will be more important for the future of your business than putting the wellbeing of your workers centre-stage.

The past 11 months have blurred the lines between work, and life beyond work for most people. And while more time at home bestows certain benefits, it isn’t all lie-ins and endless cups of tea: working remotely, setting up shop at home, taking on the pressures of home-schooling, and being cut off from colleagues has all taken its toll – resulting in a significant worsening of mental health issues since the Covid-crisis began.

One good thing to come out of the pandemic and the shift to our working patters is the increased awareness of our own health, and the changing expectation on employers to prioritise workforce wellbeing. Because if you’re not taking good care of your people, who will?

The competition; that’s who.

Create a culture of wellbeing for the win

You can’t simply pay lip service to the concept of wellbeing and expect to see the pay-off. People can sniff out an inauthentic policy quicker than you can say attrition.

What really makes a difference to a workplace – and pays dividends for the business – is creating an authentic culture of wellbeing; a culture that celebrates openness, encourages communication, and makes it achievable to put health (mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual) at the top of the agenda.

So, why is it important for business?

Most mental health issues are preventable, but companies are losing millions to sickness absence and poor productivity through mental ill health.

“Deloitte has produced a model which estimates that a workplace wellbeing programme would cost approximately £80 per employee and in a company of 500 employees (£40,000) would result in net annual savings of £347,722.”

(Source: Why workplaces should take health and well-being seriously)

Productivity is also at an all-time low. We’re slumping, fast. And happiness directly correlates with this: Professor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, a lead researcher at Oxford University, found that happy employees are 13% more productive than unhappy employees. Furthermore, research conducted by PwC at the end of last year suggested that the UK economy would see an injection of £180bn if our output were to match that of Germany.

Happier workplaces (workplaces with wellbeing at their core) see improved productivity, increased employee engagement, reduced absenteeism and presenteeism, a strengthened brand, and higher retention – because, in our new normal, people want to work for companies who put their workforce first. Which means that if you want to attract and retain the best talent, achieve high levels of productivity, and save costs on sickness absence, wellbeing really is where it’s at.

Jodie Hill, Managing Partner at Thrive Law, has seen the impact of workplace wellbeing first-hand:

“Putting wellbeing at the heart of the values of Thrive Law, and having an authentic culture with a genuine focus on diversity and inclusion, has been the key to our growth and success.

Not only do we have one of the happiest law firms in the country (according to The Telegraph’s Happiest Places to Work Awards, we are number two in the legal sector), we’re also attracting top talent from across the UK to come join us here in Yorkshire because of those values and our culture!

Leading by example, and being vulnerable and open about my own mental health story has supported that culture, and ensured we have no stigma at Thrive when it comes to workplace mental health. We talk openly and support one another when we are struggling.”

Nurture community within your company

When companies function as communities, trust and happiness levels soar.

If you give your employees the resources and training to understand and recognise that mental health issues carry vastly differing signs and symptoms, you equip your people with the tools they need to support one another (and to recognise those signs in themselves).

A workforce, all looking out for one another, and positively impacting your bottom line as they go.

Because of the long-standing stigma associated with poor mental health – something we’re working hard to smash at every opportunity – a lot of people will find it challenging to speak out and ask for help. But if your working culture actively supports wellness and encourages openness, you successfully remove a sizeable barrier to better wellbeing.

Work is one of the key stressors behind poor mental health, so failing to address the root cause of the problem is entirely counter-productive. You can’t simply rely on people putting in the work to care for their wellbeing in their own time, because work is such an enormous part of that. And a lot of people don’t even know where to start.

So be the change you want to see.

It’s worth noting that making a change doesn’t have to be expensive: your priority should be to make a healthy work-life balance realistically achievable; be clear that you expect your employees to put their health and wellbeing first; communicate any resources you’re providing (fitness classes/access to therapy/wellbeing guidance/regular check-ins), and encourage honesty from the top down. Because if your leaders are vocal about their own struggles and stresses, you cement a culture of wellbeing into the very DNA of your organisation.

Final thoughts

The impact of poor mental health on your business can be devastating – but people aren’t to be punished. We all need a little more help and support these days; a little more encouragement; a little less chastising (ahem, not that we ever needed chastising).

The stats make it clear that when you put wellbeing at the heart of your business, wonderful things start to happen. And in a time when the news seems to go from bad to worse, we all need more positivity in our lives.

So, what are you waiting for? There’s a workplace revolution happening right now, and it’s time you got involved.

Article by Emma Attenborough-Sergeant, The Wellness Writer.

With a passion for mental health and wellbeing, Emma set up The Wellness Writer to help leaders and organisations improve culture and engagement through relatable wellness content.