Why Workplace Wellbeing really matters...

For employers and employees, wellbeing has never been more valued and important. In terms of simple humanity and quality of life, of course, but also, on a more pragmatic level, in terms of productivity and profit. In a special guest column for WMB, Warwickshire County Council Public Health Delivery Manager (Wellbeing and Workforce) Jo Southan explains why workplace wellbeing really matters.

A new government is in place and has announced their commitment to their manifesto ‘Back to Work Plan,’ along with plans to tackle economic inactivity. So what does this mean? And why are work and health so significantly linked? 

Nationally, we have seen rising levels of economic inactivity (people not in employment who have not been seeking work within the last four weeks and/or are unable to start work within the next two weeks) and a record number of people out of work due to long-term sickness.

The new Government’s proposals include merging Jobcentre Plus and the National Careers Service to get more people into work and to support those seeking better opportunities with the tools to find better paid work. They also plan to provide opportunities for training, apprenticeships and support for 18 to 21-year-olds to find work through The Youth Guarantee, as well as supporting more disabled people and those living with health conditions to enter or stay at work by handing over more power to local areas so they can shape a joined-up work, health and skills offer.

Wellbeing is at the forefront of employers’ minds at the moment in the light of significant skills gaps in some sectors. As businesses struggle to recruit, managing employee sickness and the effect it has on productivity can be challenging. Over the last year, Warwickshire Skills Hub has seen a rise in employers looking for training solutions such as mental first aid to ensure that their business can support staff when it matters the most.  

Ill health affects the quality of people’s lives and because time spent out of work can affect future employment and pay, this can have a knock-on effect with a reduced standard of living which in turn can lead to further deteriorating health. The right relationship between health and work therefore is mutually beneficial: work, of adequate quality, has a positive impact on health and good health enables people to contribute to the workforce. 

With an emphasis on supporting people into work, it is vital that employers promote and support employee wellbeing to prevent stress, promote healthy, positive working environments and enable both employees and the organisation to thrive. Good health and wellbeing are key drivers of employee engagement and organisational performance. 

To support our local workplaces to achieve a thriving and healthy workforce, Warwickshire County Council Public Health Team hold two Workplace Wellbeing Forums each year, with the most recent being June 2024.  The forums provide an opportunity to hear about local initiatives with data detailing which issues are affecting people living and working in your area. They are also an opportunity to network with other businesses and hear about what they are doing to support their health and wellbeing agendas. 

The events are free to attend and details of previous and upcoming sessions, along with useful resources, can be found on the website https://www.wellbeing4life.co.uk/businesses Please do get in touch if we can support you, your business and your employees.