When promoting workplace well-being, employers should have a holistic approach by looking at multiple factors such as the emotional wellbeing, physical health, working relationships and job satisfaction of employees. The benefits of employers increasing their focus on employee wellbeing include a healthier and more inclusive culture, a better work life balance and better employee morale engagement.
A recent study conducted by the CIPD has shown an increase in sickness absence within the workplace. On average, 7.8 days of sickness are used per employee, this is the highest level in a decade. Stress and mental health continues to be one of the main causes of short-term and long-term absence, 76% of respondents within their study report some stress-related absence in their organisation over the last year, although this rises to 92% of organisations with more than 250 employees. High workloads have been found to be the main cause of stress-related absence, followed by management. So, what can you do as an organisation to tackle and reduce these figures?
Our Top Tips for supporting the well-being of employees within the workplace:
- Ensure you have a wellbeing strategy which focuses your commitment to wellbeing.
- Have weekly/monthly check-ins with employees.
- Promote employee assistance programmes (EAP).
- Appoint a mental-health first aider.
- Promote employee benefits – health cash plans, free counselling sessions, fruit box etc.
- Use regular employee wellbeing surveys to understand self-reported measures of wellbeing.
- Make referrals to Occupational Health where appropriate.
It is important to ensure your employees feel they have a good work life balance, ensuring this will hopefully reduce the numbers of staff absence. Work-life balance is not defined by hours but by outcomes, it involves the ability to switch off from work-related issues outside of your working hours. Organisations can improve their employees work life balance through offering flexible and remote working, encouraging breaks during the working day and regularly reviewing workloads.
Here at FEPS, we will be hosting a webinar, which will go into further detail, on how to promote and tackle the causes of work-related mental health problems on Wednesday 13th December 2023. Follow the link below to book your free slot onto the webinar.
If you would like assistance with services you can offer your employees to improve well-being, please click here or call 01924 827869 and one of the team would be happy to talk you through what we can offer. You can also monitor your staff absence through our SAMpeople system, to find out more please contact the SAMpeople team here or request a demonstration of our absence module, SAM.
