Mental Health at Work

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Building a resilient workforce: the role of HR in employee wellbeing and mental health

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Building a resilient workforce: the role of HR in employee wellbeing and mental health

The American Psychiatric Association points to a startling reality: unresolved depression in employees results in a 35% reduction in productivity, leading to a loss of $210.5 billion a year in absenteeism, reduced productivity, and medical costs.

How can HR professionals build a resilient workforce in the face of growing mental health challenges? What proactive HR strategies can be employed to not only enhance employee wellbeing, but also impact the company's bottom line positively?

This week, guest writer Rob Press seeks to explore these crucial questions, offering insights into creating a nurturing and supportive work environment where mental health is prioritised.

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Work smarter not harder: how to train and improve your focus

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Work smarter not harder: how to train and improve your focus

The advent of AI and its various incarnations has questioned the very value of human effort. And yet, the requirement for menial human work has reduced ever since the industrial revolution, you could argue that AI and automation is just another step in the road to total efficiency.

With less menial tasks being thrusted upon us, an opportunity to spend more time being innovative and creative arises. However, being both innovative and creative requires one key ingredient; focus.

It’s almost ironic then that the very technological growth that allows us to do less, also happens to distract us even more. As technology becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life, our ability to carry out focused work reduces.

This week’s guest post features Aled Nelmes, who shares his insights and five key tips to help the modern worker practise the art of focus.

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Why we grieve

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Why we grieve

Anyone who has had to manage the impact of grief understands how profound it can be. As a society, we don’t always make room for grief, and this can be especially true in our workplaces. After bereavement leave (a time often swamped by administrative tasks and funeral planning), we are expected to return to work and carry on - but this is easier said than done. 

In fact, managing our emotions in the weeks and months after bereavement can be so difficult that dealing with our everyday responsibilities seems nearly impossible, leading many to wonder why we feel loss so acutely.

In this week’s guest blog, the team at Harold Wood Funeral Services share their perspective on understanding why we grieve, and why it is a necessary readjustment in order to accept life as it is after experiencing deep loss.

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How to build a workplace culture of wellbeing in a new business

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How to build a workplace culture of wellbeing in a new business

If you are an entrepreneur and have just started a new business, there are many things to consider, such as establishing your company’s finances and promoting your services. While tending to these matters, it is easy to overlook the importance of wellbeing for both yourself and your staff, even though it is one of the most significant factors that play a role in your business' success.

By ensuring both you and your team are at your best while working, you can maximise productivity, improve work quality, and boost your overall business outcomes. In fact, Elite Business Magazine reported that small businesses who invested more than £1,000 in mental health experienced improved revenue growth and employee retention between 2020 and 2022.

This week, guest writer Megan Lance shares her top tips on how to start building a workplace culture of wellbeing in your new business.

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Balancing people and profit: The importance of workplace sustainability and wellbeing

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Balancing people and profit: The importance of workplace sustainability and wellbeing

Emails, smartphones, and video communications evolved to increase productivity and make our working lives easier. Inside and outside of the office, over the years we’ve been presented with ways to be more connected than ever; though this can come at a cost to our health, happiness and productivity. In large, technological advances around work have encouraged unsustainable working practices, leaving many professionals vulnerable to stress and burnout as the boundaries between work and life dissolves.

What if technology like mental health apps for employees could be used to improve sustainability and wellbeing in the workplace? The demand for virtual mental healthcare is certainly there, with an analysis of over 1 million health plan members revealing that telemedicine health visits increased from 0 to 39 per thousand health scheme members between 2019 and 2021.

This week, guest writer Remy Daroowala explores the benefits of healthy workplaces, how mental health and sustainability are connected and how mental health apps for employees can improve sustainability and wellbeing.