Since the pandemic, there has been increased societal interest in wellbeing at work. Many companies have introduced wellbeing programmes, whilst others just don’t know where to start.
So what is wellbeing in general, and what is wellbeing at work?
According to the dictionary, wellbeing is “the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy”.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines mental health as “a state of wellbeing in which an individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”.
What Does This Actually Mean?
Wellbeing is a complex combination of a person’s physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health factors. In this context, it has nothing to do with an absence of disease or illness. Rather, wellbeing is strongly linked to happiness and life satisfaction.
Both the WHO and Mind (a mental health charity in England and Wales) recognise that wellbeing involves not just happiness, but crucially, the ability to manage difficulties, problems, and challenges – the ‘normal stress’ of life.
Despite these definitions, what people think ‘wellbeing’ means is subjective!
People react differently to the same event. The impact of any occurrence, such as a traumatic experience, will have different outcomes for different people. As a result, the focus of any workplace programme cannot be on the event, but rather on the individual.
What is Wellbeing At Work?
Adults spend a significant part of their time at work, so workplaces can have a big impact on their physical and mental health, and on their wellbeing. A positive workplace can improve a person’s health and wellbeing by giving a sense of purpose, structure and satisfaction. However workplaces can also cause stress and anxiety and be a contributing factor to a mental health problem.
The International Labour Organisation states that “workplace wellbeing relates to all aspects of working life, from the quality and safety of the physical environment, to how workers feel about their work, their working environment, the climate at work, and work organisation”.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have established the Management Standards, where six key areas are defined that will influence an employee’s mental health and wellbeing:
- Demands – this includes issues such as workload, work patterns and the work environment
- Control – how much the person can determine the way in which they perform their work
- Support – including encouragement, sponsorship and resources provided by the business, line management and colleagues
- Relationships – promoting positive working relationships to avoid conflict and dealing with unacceptable behaviour
- Role – whether people understand their role within the business and how the business ensures they do not have conflicting roles
- Change – how organisational change (whether it is small or large) is managed and how this is communicated within the business
Wellbeing in the workplace is the comprehensive state of employees’ health, happiness, and satisfaction. It includes physical health, mental health, job satisfaction, work-life balance, and the ability to effectively manage work-related stress.
Earlier I said that wellbeing is impacted by illness. This is true, and a fantastic side effect of maintaining a healthier, happier lifestyle is a greater resistance to sickness. Thus, it’s well worth any business investing in their staff in this way.
So how is wellbeing at work achieved? It’s about a combination of a supportive work environment, effective organisational policies, and initiatives aimed at promoting and maintaining employees’ overall health and happiness.
The Dangers of Ignoring Workplace Wellbeing
If your employees suffer poor mental health, it can have an impact on both their productivity, resulting in a loss of productivity for the business.
The HSE annual statistics identified that 0.9 million workers were suffering from a work-related mental health issue – stress, depression or anxiety (new or long-standing) in 2022 / 2023. This is a staggering 49% of all work-related ill health!
Additionally 17.1 million working days were lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety, accounting for 54% of all days lost to work-related ill health.
Those statistics speak volumes about why you should take the wellbeing of your staff seriously.
Demonstrate Your Dedication to Workers’ Health with ISO 45003
ISO 45003 is the first global standard that provides guidance for managing psychological health and safety at work, and promotes wellbeing as part of a wider health and safety management system.
The standard provides guidance for companies to create a more inclusive culture for their employees by fostering a supportive and healthy work environment. This means improving their wellbeing and consequently their performance, which will enhance the business’ productivity.
Implementing ISO 45003 can greatly enhance workplace wellbeing by providing a comprehensive framework for managing psychosocial risks. By focusing on prevention, support, and continuous improvement, organisations can create healthier, more supportive work environments that promote the overall wellbeing of their employees.
