The benefits of a workplace wellbeing scheme/programme for the employer are numerous and varied and range from the ability to reduce stress and talk to a professional to gain advice about any issue that they might be having that is affecting their mental health, to gaining new knowledge about how to manage time, people and their own personal wellness.

With mental health issues on the rise every year, it is imperative that a company does what it can to help its workforce stay healthy both physically and mentally. When stress and anxiety is reduced, the employee can work to their best, they can bring forth their true talents and abilities and can work effectively and happily with their colleagues and leaders

In 2020 alone a report revealed that nearly 60% of employees across the UK stated that stress had been increasing at work. A further recent study based on the analysis of stress levels at work reports that: 

• 88% of employees now reported experiencing moderate to extreme stress.

• 69% of employees claimed that the last few years has been their most stressful years at work.

• 91% of employees working from home reported experiencing medium levels to extreme levels of stress.

• 43% of employees have reported as becoming physically ill as a result of work-related stress.

These statistics illustrate that there are very often work based pressures involved when people report high levels of stress and anxiety in their lives. The awareness of stress and its effects are more predominant now than ever before and a range of solutions are required to help alleviate the problem. Mental health and wellbeing services are becoming more common and more leaders are now aware of the benefits that these services bring.

From the many benefits that a wellbeing scheme can bring to the employee, the main advantages to consider are:

1. A happy workplace - with a strong and competent team in place, along with understanding management, employees feel happy and safe.. With an understanding of wellbeing, equality and diversity the employee can thrive in the organisation and feel that this is a company that really supports them, their health and their aspirations. The most successful companies are the ones that invest and promote workplace wellbeing and positive workplace culture.

2. Increased energy and motivation - When the mind gains immersion into a deep state of rest via a method such as meditation, it enables the individual to re-charge their energy at the deepest level, resulting in a more energetic mind and body, refreshed and clear with more capacity to work with a produce and motivated mindset.

3. An improved work-life balance - when an employer introduces a wellbeing programme, it helps to ensure that the employee gains a good work-life balance, enabling them to work more flexible hours, ensure that they limit their exposure to stress related activities, meeting deadlines while still having time for family, friends and external activities, resulting in a happier week at work with an ability to enjoy life.

4. Better team coherence - when employees are happy and stress is reduced, it creates a better social environment with the advantage of the organisation producing a loyal workforce, with each employee working to a common purpose, with trust and enthusiasm. Better team coherence is developed and that in turn creates better working relationships, resulting in a happier workforce for all.

5. Your mental health taken care of - Working for a company that create a healthy environment and supports employee life is something we all aspire to. When an employer helps its employees to reduce their stress as well as reduce exposure to stressful situations, it helps ensure that the mental health of the employee is put first. Stress can affect the mind to the extent that strain and tension can cause physical illnesses such as hypertension and heart disease. Maintaining good mental health by use of meditation, yoga, talking therapies, social activities and workshops etc and with the reduction in long hours and the promotion of a good work-life balance, ensures that employees are healthy and maintain a strong immune system, reducing susceptibility to stress related issues and illness

5. Professional development - Good wellbeing programmes will always include a learning aspect. From eLearning courses to in-house workshops and wellbeing week's, there is always lots to learn when it comes to mental health and staying healthy.  Subjects that should be on offer include, Mental Health Awareness, Motivation, Mental Risk, How To Maintain Wellbeing, Anxiety, Mental Health First Aid courses, Attaining Your Goals in Life and much more. By learning the science and the background behind these subjects, we learn more about ourselves and our own minds, which then enables us to have more tools at our disposal when it comes to ensuring that we have the knowledge of how to stay personally mental and physically healthy.

6. Better prospects - The main benefits of a good wellbeing programme are to reduce stress, improve internal happiness, bring out the true potential in people and help them learn more about themselves and their own minds, about their own abilities and their aspirations. When we are able to work to a high level of performance whilst retaining, focus, energy, happiness and motivation, we are more likely to succeed in our role. We are more likely to be considered for promotion and more likely to do well in many other areas due to an ability to develop our inner potential and confidence.

7. A visible and understanding leadership - We have already discussed how it is essential for leaders and managers to enthusiastically promote their wellbeing programme. With the backing of leaders, employees are likely to gain more from the wellbeing programme, to become engaged and motivated to attend the activities and learn from what is on offer. When management promote wellbeing it also shows that they are an understanding and approachable leadership, with the visible commitment to their employees health and wellbeing. This ensures that employees feel safer, happier, more likely to become involved in the organisation and do well in their roles.

8. A happy future - A good wellbeing programme can help employees form a mental strength and a routine of reducing their stress that can stay with them for life, to help their prospects in any employment that they might choose for the future. Good mental health enables an individual to form better relationships, have greater self-confidence and self-esteem, a calmer and clearer outlook, and more focus and motivation. This then helps give all employees the potential for a happier and more fruitful future, both at work and in their personal lives.