Developing a Mentally Healthy Workplace: Wellbeing as an Ecosystem

There will be much uncertainty as we move forward and employees will need to feel that they work in a place of psychological safety, where they can speak about their concerns and have those concerns listened to and attended to with care. Flexibility and communication will be key to keeping staff motivated, engaged and creative. Some conversations in the workplace may well be challenging in terms of the variety of different opinions on vaccines, ways of working, shared spaces, and it is vital that line managers feel they have the confidence and competence to manage these conversations well. Investing in good people management is key, especially as evidence suggest that employee wellbeing is largely mediated by the relationship with the line manager.

Developing and sustaining cultures which tackle the unhealthy work habits of long, excessive working hours, increasing demands without the resources to meet these demands, and lack of meaningful progression will be essential in retaining employees’ key to the success of any business. Recent research by Benenden Health has indicated that how an organisation supports mental health and wellbeing will be an important decision-making factor in terms of an employee’s choice of employer.

Organisations who see wellbeing as an ecosystem with many interrelated parts will no doubt have the edge over those who abdicate responsibility to the individual solely. The provision of mental health support runs alongside providing physical and emotional safe spaces to work, financial planning and debt management support, mediation services when conflict arises — which it naturally does between human beings, especially during times of stress — and an emphasis on good quality relationships. Developing trust within an environment and a culture of collaborative support will sustain businesses through the choppy waters ahead.