{"id":238515,"date":"2019-05-24T03:07:40","date_gmt":"2019-05-24T02:07:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalbankingandfinance.com\/?p=238515"},"modified":"2019-06-26T14:41:23","modified_gmt":"2019-06-26T13:41:23","slug":"practical-steps-for-improving-workplace-wellbeing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalbankingandfinance.com\/practical-steps-for-improving-workplace-wellbeing\/","title":{"rendered":"Practical steps for improving workplace wellbeing"},"content":{"rendered":"

By<\/em> Tara O\u2019Sullivan, <\/em><\/strong>CMO at Skillsoft<\/em><\/p>\n

In recent years, public debate has done much to stimulate open and honest conversations relating to the mental health difficulties faced by many of us. Everyone across the organisation should feel able to talk about stress and mental health, yet when it comes to the workplace, few employees are comfortable speaking to a manager about their stress levels or mental health.<\/p>\n

According to UK Government research<\/a>, stress and poor mental health costs UK businesses between \u00a333 billion and \u00a342 billion a year through reduced productivity, high staff turnover and sickness absence\u2014equivalent to \u00a31,205-\u00a31,560 for every employee in the UK workforce. This highlights why all employers need to act on mental health in the workplace as a top business priority, but it should also be as much of an employee wellbeing priority.<\/p>\n

Work-related health issues<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), one-in-four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem at some point, with anxiety and depression the top problems reported. All too often these are a reaction to work-related issues.<\/p>\n

Indeed, according to the HSE<\/a>, work related stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 57% of the total number of lost working days in 2017\/18. Meanwhile, in 2018 a YouGov survey on behalf of the Mental Health Foundation and Mental Health First Aid England<\/a> made the surprising discovery that millennials are the demographic most likely to feel under pressure in the workplace, with 34% saying stress impacts on their productivity, and 28% saying their organisation\u2019s culture means they\u2019re expected to power through stress.<\/p>\n

Shining a light on workplace stress<\/strong><\/p>\n

Job insecurity, heavy workloads and pressure to perform are all key contributory factors that can result in workers experiencing high levels of stress. Other top causes reported by workers include concerns about individual or team performance, organisational changes, unrealistic or tight deadlines, customer satisfaction levels, and office politics.<\/p>\n

However, research conducted by Canada Life Group Insurance in 2018 <\/a>found that while 9.7 million UK workers say their productivity is being damaged by stress and anxiety, many employer organisations are failing to provide the support employees struggling with issues at work need. As a result, enterprise productivity is suffering.<\/p>\n

But there are practical steps employers can take to improve wellbeing in the workplace. Two of the primary focus areas include:<\/p>\n