The human cost is incalculable. But quite apart from this, think of the disruption, loss of productivity and expense caused by the resultant need for recruitment and retraining.
The effect of poor mental health on the workforce – and the UK economy – has received a great deal of media attention recently.
Looking after the mental health of employees goes beyond providing support should they need time off work. It’s also important to create an environment in which mental health is not stigmatised. Taking time off with a condition like anxiety should be seen in exactly the same way as calling in sick with a bad cold. It’s also important to take positive action to prevent and counter stress before it can cause more serious problems.
3 Thriving at work – the Stevenson/Farmer review of mental health and employers, October 2017, p5.
Mindfulness is a concept which sometimes meets with confusion or scepticism. In reality, it’s nothing more than the idea of living ‘in the moment’. It’s about learning how to put aside the concerns that cause stress while doing something enjoyable or relaxing. Mindfulness and similar approaches to stress-busting can play a major role in helping maintain good mental health - and it's easier than you may think to implement them in the workplace. Activities such as organised walks, colouring, yoga or relaxation sessions can make a real difference. The more mindfulness is practiced the better we become at it. Mindfulness also applies to work related activity. The more distracted you are by other work tasks, the longer it is going to take you to finish the task at hand. Being able to focus is vital at work and mindfulness practice builds this ability.
Promote an open culture where employees feel comfortable discussing mental health issues without being judged.
Supporting charities and local community organisations does more than enhance the reputation of the employer. Research has shown that voluntary work helps the helpers as well as the people they support – this is what we call ‘the power of positivity’ here at Aviva. Volunteering helps instil confidence, improves teamwork and engenders the sense of personal wellbeing which helps employees to perform at their best.
Looking beyond community work, it's also important to recognise the value of other activities in which colleagues spend time together socially. This could be anything from team lunches or picnics to setting up groups for employees who share the same interests. These activities can be particularly beneficial to employees who might live alone, or frequently work from home.
4 https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/volunteering-and-its-surprising-benefits.htm
London School of Economics researchers found regular volunteers were 12% more likely to be ‘very happy’ than those who never did voluntary work.4
The one who’s always the first to put their hand up when something needs organising or when something’s going on to support a good cause? Recruiting a team of ‘hero’ volunteers is a cost-effective way to develop a social responsibility strategy, while allowing highly motivated employees to enjoy playing to their strengths on behalf of the broader team. This approach also means you can support voluntary work at all levels of the business – just a directive handed down from above.
