Employee Mental Wellbeing
Following the pandemic, the way we work has changed: perhaps forever. Employees are now working longer hours, less likely to take a break and feeling altogether more stressed and isolated. With Work from Home and hybrid models the new norm, social working hours have become blurred.
Digital Ocean found that 82% of remote tech workers in the U.S. felt burnt out, with 52% reporting that they worked longer hours than they did in the office. How can we ensure that people stay productive and happy? To not only survive... but thrive
A considered wellbeing strategy could make all the difference to these employees: ultimately reducing absenteeism while improving job satisfaction, productivity and retention. One way employers can help emphasise the importance of social and emotional well-being in their workplace is by the introduction of wellness programs such as offering one-to-one Life and Wellness Coaching to remote workers, as well as opportunities for employees to meet their teams in informal non-work related settings, for example at an Art Workshop (see details below).
As a corporate wellness coach, I work with corporates to help employees maintain and improve their health and mental wellness goals and make better choices based on their lifestyles. I am also trained in Psychological Safety.The biggest benefit of being a wellness coach is helping people adopt and maintain healthy behaviours.
Also, life coaching sessions are highly effective in helping clients achieve specific professional or personal goals and allow the manifestation of new and better behaviours, which leads the employee to an improved and happier life.
I donate a percentage of each session's earnings to Mind, a registered charity supporting "Better Mental Health."
A study by the ICF claims that employee wellbeing programs and coaching showed that employees had a:
62%
Faster and better achievements of their goals and more clarity in their decisions
52%
Believed they have higher self-esteem
57%
Lowered their levels of stress
According to the Harvard Business Review, employees’ wellness programmes have measurable returns, with 3-1 return in money saved.
The World Health Organization (WHO)
Estimates that depression and anxiety costs the global economy $1 trillion per year in lost productivity.
In 2018, 114 million days were lost due to employee absenteeism, with stress, mental health illness the main contributing factors.
However, WHO also found that for every $1 spent treating common mental health concerns, there is a return of $4 in improved health and productivity.
In today’s new climate of uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to pay proper attention to employee wellbeing.
Why focus on employee wellness?
I have already highlighted the alarming statistics on employee stress, anxiety and burnout, the cost to businesses and the benefits of wellness programmes to mitigate these. But how aware are you of whether your employees and how many, are experiencing any of these symptoms?
Psychological symptoms
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Persistently worrying about several areas that are out of proportion to the impact of the events
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Overthinking plans and solutions to all possible worst-case outcomes
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Perceiving situations and events as threatening, even when they aren't
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Difficulty handling uncertainty
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Indecisiveness and fear of making the wrong decision
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Inability to set aside or let go of a worry, feeling restless, and on edge
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Having difficulty concentrating
Physical symptoms
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Feeling fatigue
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Having trouble sleeping
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Muscle tension or muscle aches
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Trembling, feeling twitchy
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Being overly nervous or easily startled
A great number of employees haven’t got the tools and resources to effectively cope with stress, burnout and anxiety. Stress studies, report that managers are not equipped to spot the above early warning signs to mitigate the serious impact these have on the employee and the business.
These work-related health-promotion programmes, activities, initiatives and policies encourage healthy behaviours and outcomes, with tangible benefits for the employee and the company.
Solutions
The comprehensive wellness services are designed to help businesses and their employees work together to achieve their joint wellness goals.
They include:
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Diagnostics: to assess employee wellness and develop programmes to mitigate risks
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Company Wide Wellness Programmes: to successfully develop a complete Wellness Strategy with activity plans and KPIs
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Tailored Wellness Support Services: to enhance wellness initiatives, such as corporate wellness coaching and workshops on stress management, mindfulness, nutrition awareness
These can be developed and implemented on one of the three following ways
DFY
Done For You: assess your current situation and provide you with a corporate wellness programme that can be implemented by you
DWY
Done With You: work side by side with you to provide a highly tailored solution
DWY
Bespoke: DWY format plus bundles of coaching hours, workshops and on-going monitoring and improvement support
SIMPLE APPROACH
All engagements starts with the use of the diagnostic tool, which helps assess and identify your needs and your employees’ and benchmark your organisational wellness. Then prepare an employee and company wellness strategy and activity plan with KPIs.
I work with you in one of the three ways, to ensure successful initial implementation and ongoing successful monitoring of the KPIs
According to Charles Benayon (2019) ‘if an organisation wants to ensure that they are valuing the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of their employees, KPIs are a sustainable source for measurement, as well as for highlighting any potential areas for improvement’.
Coaching
Three formats of coaching: one to one, group coaching and workshops
My coaching focuses on helping employees discover and embrace the best version of oneself, growth in personal development, overcoming obstacles and limiting beliefs, and releasing the potential of the individual. Coaching:
1
Helps and guides the client to set goals and achieve them
2
Provides focus to obtain results effectively and efficiently
3
Provides tools, support and structure to achieve their goals
4
Motivates to act and critically think towards the achievement of their goals
Example of some coaching topics are: stress management, managing anxiety at work, managing conflicts at work, work/life balance, how to thrive in a hybrid working environment.
Sessions usually last 50 minutes and take place at regular, planned times. They can be in-person or online.
The number of sessions you have will depend on the type of therapy you’re having and your personal circumstances,
but I recommend around 12-16 weeks.
Corporate clients can buy a block of sessions that could take place at their offices or online for people working remotely
1 hr
95 British pounds
1 hr
95 British pounds
1 hr
95 British pounds
1 hr
95 British pounds
*Stress Management and Mindfulness services, can also be booked by corporates as onsite group workshops. There are great management tools for stress reduction and team-building. These can be delivered as half day workshops at business premises or full days when combined with business coaching.
Improving wellbeing through collaborative creativity
Art has long been recognised as an activity which feeds the soul and promotes positive thinking. It stimulates our rewards system, nurtures a sense of satisfaction and wellbeing, and makes us feel generally more in control. As such, Art is an ideal channel for overcoming fear and stress in our everyday lives, while giving us the self-nourishment and fulfilment we need for personal growth.
Our Art and Colour Corporate Workshops set out to trigger these responses by encouraging a sense of teamwork, supported by strong connections and creative thinking. Participants enjoy the opportunity to learn a new skill in an informal, supportive environment.
It’s an ideal way to create a sense of personal achievement, collaborative connection (and not to mention, fun!) between your colleagues – away from their daily work locations and routines.
ART HELPS US 'HEAL'
It has long been used by alternative healing practitioners to support patients experiencing mental health issues.
ART STIRS OUR EMOTIONS
Colours evoke emotions in all of us. Art interventions have been linked to healing and recovery, influencing mental, somatic, and psychological experiences.
ART IS POPULAR
According to a recent survey by the UK-based charity, Mind, 70% of people listed art-based therapies among their top three treatment choices.
Art is an ideal channel for overcoming fear and stress, while enabling personal growth. Our Art and Colour Corporate Workshops encourage teamwork, supported by connections and creative thinking.