For many of us, work is such a huge part of our day to day lives. We spend on average 40 hours at work and many more hours commuting and thinking about it. It stands to reason that we bring our lives with us, and it’s hard to separate what’s going on inside from the outside. It’s clear many of us struggle to cope at work from time to time because of personal or professional difficulties, meaning a focus on workplace wellbeing remains of huge importance.
Things like family illness, bereavement, financial pressures and relationship problems can make it difficult to cope at work. Mental health has now become the most common cause of workplace absence so it’s a huge issue for both employees and employers.
Our work in this area led to us receive an Outstanding Contribution to Wellbeing award at part of IBEC’s inaugural Keepwell Awards. In addition to a range of online and community-based programmes, we are increasingly active in supporting employers when it comes to championing wellbeing in the workplace. To date, we have worked with companies such as Sky Ireland, Paypal, eBay, Linkedin, Bank of Ireland, Alexion, Momentum, HPRA, the Department of Agriculture and many others who are investing in staff wellness.
Research from the UK based Institute of Directors shows that over 50% of employers have been approached by employees about mental health challenges but only 14 per cent of companies have a policy in place to deal with the problem. The study also revealed that one in five directors in large companies didn’t know whether they had a policy at all. The number of days taken off due to mental health problems has increased significantly year on year according to the UK Office for National Statistics. It states that anxiety, stress, and depression taken together are now the largest reason for workplace absence. It is widely thought that the figures for Ireland are similar.
While it’s great to see the momentum for change, we’re also keen to stress that the change required needs to be a culture shift. We can’t just look for quick-fixes when it comes to wellbeing. Having once off talks and workshops has a role but we encourage companies to go the distance and really look at wellbeing from a cultural perspective and ensure it becomes rooted into the heart of every aspect of the business.
It’s up to all of us to help drive the change that is needed. We need employers, company owners, directors, management teams, and staff to all want and demand change. Societal wellness is everyone’s business and the workplace is such an important forum for driving change. This means looking at everything from Employee Assistance Programmes, to meditation and mindfulness, in-house talks and training, promoting healthy food and exercise, and most importantly, fostering an empathetic and supportive culture.
Leading companies are already seeing the benefits in terms of their ability to attract and retain staff, and staff generally feel more committed and motivated when it comes to workplaces that value and support them. The changes required needn’t cost the earth but they can lead to savings. The most important saving of all is the suffering that so many people go through. We all have a responsibility to support each other and the workplace is a great place to help make this happen.
For more information on Suicide or Survive go to suicideorsurvive.ie
Caroline McGuigan’s workplace wellness tips:
1. Mindfulness: Take five to 10 minutes every day to do a team meditation exercise. It improves wellbeing, focus and productivity. It also takes us out of the busyness of work to give our minds a break, which allows us to face our workload with renewed energy.
2. Wellness jar: We have a jar in my own office into which everyone puts their own wellness tips – simple things like “take a minute to breathe and to notice your surroundings”, “play your favourite piece of music”, “have a chat with a friend” or “get some fresh air at lunchtime”.
We each take a tip from the jar every day and commit to putting it into action before the day is over. This is a really simple and effective thing that everyone can take part in.
3. Taking notice: Paying attention to your colleagues and really listening when someone tells you how they are. Take time to notice and complement those around you – kind words can give a lift to those who are struggling.
4. Gratitude: Never underestimate the value of thanking a colleague. We doubt our ability in work from time to time so being made to feel appreciated can have a big impact.
5. Being open about our struggles: Many of us struggle with our mental health every now and then, but the stigma and the pressures of work can force us to put on a mask that only worsens our difficulties.
If you’re in a position to do so, make every effort to foster a workplace culture where people can be open about their mental health without fearing judgement, and support and encouragement are always on hand.
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