Wellbeing
What is Wellbeing?
Wellbeing is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as
“the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.”
Promoting and supporting employee wellbeing champions better work and working lives because an effective workplace wellbeing programme can deliver mutual benefit to people, organisations, economies and communities. Healthy workplaces help people to flourish and reach their potential. This means creating an environment that actively promotes a state of contentment, benefiting both employees and the organisation.
Investing in employee wellbeing can lead to increased resilience, better employee engagement, reduced sickness absence and higher performance and productivity. (Source: CIPD)
Wellbeing for Greater Manchester
Our Wellbeing offering is specifically for Greater Manchester's organisations and is an exclusive benefit for organisations who are currently receiving support from the GM Business Growth Hub. With the combination of our dedicated Wellbeing Specialist Emma, and our monthly online and in-person workshops, we are supporting, engaging, and guiding businesses to improve wellbeing for both the workforce and leaders.
Focusing on the Four Pillars of Wellbeing (identified below), organisations can support their workforce and ensure they have the tools required to implement or improve upon their current wellbeing strategy.
Physical Wellbeing
Looking after your physical health is key to supporting your overall health and wellbeing, including your mental health. Physical wellbeing is related not only to staying active but also encompasses sleep and nutrition.
Mental Wellbeing
Mental Health is an integral part of people’s overall health and therefore, it is important to not only address the needs of individuals with defined mental disorders (depression, anxiety disorder, conduct disorder, bipolar disorder, and psychosis), but also to safeguard and promote the mental health of all people.
Financial Wellbeing
Financial wellbeing refers to feeling secure and in control, alongside being financially resilient, confident and empowered. It is important to manage employee financial wellbeing as there is the potential for significant financial distress and the risk and growth of in-work poverty.
Social Wellbeing
Connecting with others can help us feel closer to people and valued for who we are. There is a lots of research to show that taking part in social and community life and giving back to others can have a positive effect on our wellbeing.
The Value of Wellbeing
The CIPD 2022 Health and wellbeing at work survey identified the top three benefits of employers increasing their focus on employee wellbeing:
- A healthier and more inclusive culture.
- Better work-life balance.
- Better employee morale and engagement.
How can workplace practices affect people’s wellbeing?
As organisations continue to provide a flexible approach to ‘hybrid’ working (time/days spent throughout the week split between both office and home working environments), isolation may occur for an extended period either continuously or intermittently depending on the circumstances. Studies have found that people need frequent social contact, which intensifies during periods of crisis. Therefore, prolonged periods of social isolation can negatively impact people’s wellbeing. Risks to wellbeing may be related to job content or work schedule, specific characteristics of the workplace or opportunities for career development amongst other things. More so, in cases of new employees coming into the organisation and/or existing colleagues on leave of extended absences where they can be at home for extended periods, the feeling of lack of control, isolation and distress can be powerful.
Wellbeing Workshops
Alternating monthly between online and in-person delivery, check out our latest schedule of Wellbeing workshops. Delivered by our Wellbeing Specialist, Emma, these workshops will provide actions to supporting wellbeing within the workplace. Contact your GM Business Growth Hub Advisor to secure your place today.
7th May
Wellbeing for Leaders / Managing Stress | Manchester
9th May
Implementing a Wellbeing Strategy | Manchester
June Dates Coming Soon
Wellbeing for Leaders / Managing Stress | Online
June Dates Coming Soon
Implementing a Wellbeing Strategy | Online
Further Support for Employees
An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is an employer paid benefit that gives employees of that organisation access to confidential support and advice through a helpline phone number. An EAP can help an individual deal with personal problems that are affecting their wellbeing and performance at work and are considered to be one of the most effective ways and employer can look after the wellbeing of their workforce.
There are many EAP providers to choose from and we encourage businesses to research the supplier that best suits their needs and budget. The Employee Assistance Programme Association have details of all UK based providers.
The UK Employee Assistance Programme Association Find an EAP provider - The UK Employee Assistance Programme Association (eapa.org.uk)
Wellbeing Resources and Insights
April Stress Awareness Month
Take things 'little by little' this April Stress Awareness Month.
Read More
Time to Talk Day
Thursday 1st February is Time to Talk day, an initiative from Mind and Rethink Mental Illness in partnership with Co-op.
Read more
Brew Monday
Having a blue Monday? How about a brew Monday?
Read more
Festive Wellbeing