In the workplace

Wellbeing and good mental health at work have consistently been shown to improve the quality of working life, employee attendance and retention, and productivity of both enterprise and services.  

An increasing body of research makes a sound business case for investing in wellbeing in the workplace.

In a study of well being in the workplace (Building the Case for Wellness), Price Waterhouse Coopers identified a strong business case for investing in mental health and wellbeing in the work place.

Investing in mental health is not only supportive of people with common or more long-term mental health problems; it also makes commercial sense as it can:

• Reduce absenteeism
• Help sick employees to return to work earlier
• Improve performance while at work
• Prevent skilled employees from prematurely leaving the workforce
   

Primary measures in workplace wellbeing can be preventative and benefit all within the workplace, e.g.

• Reducing the risks attached undue stress
• Introducing flexible working practices
• Re-designing jobs and tasks
• Improving communication  and collaboration between managers and employees
   

Secondary measures in workplace wellbeing can support employees who have already developed mental health problems.  These may include:

• Providing mental health awareness training for staff
• Developing re-integration policies
• Providing counselling
• Stress management programmes