Zest recommends: Mental wellbeing

A week in the Caribbean then landing the big account. Spending time with the family followed by a promotion.

Striking the perfect work/life balance can often seem like an impossible chore, but the reality of the situation is our lives outside of the workplace can often be impacted by things that happen in it.

The majority of us will spend a large percentage of our time at work. It can be important to us, but it can also have a huge impact on our wellbeing. Hybrid and flexible working have reduced commuting times and given us more time to do the things we love, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg.

We want employers to do more for their people and start prioritising mental wellbeing. After all, they are your most prized asset.

A core enabler

Did you know a good wellbeing offering can be a core enabler of employee engagement and performance? We hate to sound like a broken record, but it’s true what they say, a happy employee is a productive employee.

Your wellbeing proposition should be prioritised as a critical element of your benefits package. Flexible benefits include progressive benefits tailored to your workforce’s needs, for example menopause and fertility support. It’s important to know the wellbeing benefits you offer can take the stress out of matters that can often cause concern for employees.

Mental health research

From the British weather (have you ever seen so much rain?) through to the cost of living crisis, it’s no wonder employees are experiencing difficulties that impact their mental health.

According to our research, 59% of businesses say employee wellbeing has been in decline over the past 12 months, with 57% admitting it’s at an all-time low.

Like a fire drill, it’s certainly alarming. 83% of employees are now demanding more benefits that contribute to their wellbeing. We’re not talking yoga classes and free cakes. It’s time to take your mental health benefits and offering more seriously.

Remember, wellbeing is personal, so whether you’re a company of 50 or 50,000, there’s always something that can improve.

Below we’ve looked into our Marketplace offering and recommended a selection of mental wellbeing providers.

Your Care features an engaging health management platform which offers wellbeing services and products with a focus on positive, proactive care.

They help provide everything needed to cultivate a happier, healthier workforce via evidence-based interventions and support tools. A complete solution to your wellbeing strategy, it can help to:

• Build mental resilience
• Strengthen your people’s emotional, physical and financial wellbeing
• Enable staff to live their best lives – both in and out of the workplace

With 24/7 access to in-the-moment support along with telephone and face-to-face counselling, you can empower your people to take a proactive, preventative approach to their wellbeing by connecting them to the right support, at the right time.

Healthy Performance work with companies of all sizes to help engage and motivate employees to make positive lifestyle changes.

Boasting industry-leading satisfaction levels, Healthy Performance’s onsite health assessments are incredibly engaging, and their same day health reports help employees make positive lifestyle changes and identify the areas of their health which need improvement. From mini ‘Know your numbers’ campaigns to comprehensive options including cardiac risk assessments and bowel screening, there is a solution for every budget. Other services include:

• MyWellbeingCheck lifestyle assessment tool
• Display Screen Equipment (DSE) assessments
• Digital Flu Vouchers
• Wellbeing workshops by trained healthcare professionals

Whether you require a fully managed service or ad-hoc advice and support, Healthy Performance can help build strategies or annual wellbeing programmes around your objectives.

Building an inclusive, healthy and happy community in the workplace can naturally drive performance and success. But how do you meet the unique needs of each individual, understanding the role the workplace is playing in meeting or impacting their wellbeing and therefore their performance?

That’s where Emplomind comes in.

Their on-demand mental health & wellbeing support delivers access to a diverse pool of specialists who can meet with your employees where they are in the wellbeing journey. Emplomind provide ease of access, industry-leading availability, anonymity and culturally diverse support, helping to break down a number of barriers.

Quarterly insights will help HR & Leadership teams pinpoint the areas of the workplace that are impacting people, helping to drive change.

Nutrition goes beyond just physical wellbeing. A healthy diet can also help you benefit from a healthier mind. It is fundamental to an employee’s health.

Nutrable supports 45 nutrition pathways including sleep, fatigue, menopause and mental health. Employees who join the platform have access to nutrition talks, private consultations, podcasts and blood tests.

Benefits of partnering with Nutrable include:

• Improved sleep, energy and productivity
• Reduced absences and sickness
• Condition support (menopause, cancer)
• A healthier and happier workforce

Mental health issues can cause distress and affect colleagues in all forms of life. Some employees may benefit from further support, so Zest want to recommend some general avenues of assistance that can help people in their time of need.

A conversation and seeing what more you can do to help are beneficial, but you can also reassure them that they don’t have to deal with their difficulties alone

Employee Assistance Programme

Funded by the employer, the EAP is a confidential hotline that offers support to individuals who need it most. No matter the issue or concern, the EAP is a shining light in what can perhaps be a difficult period in someone’s life. They are there to help with matters including:

• Health and safety concerns
• Financial and legal topics
• Work-related issues
• Relationships and family matters

To find out if you have an EAP offering, visit your benefits platform, check your employee handbook, or simply ask your HR department.

Employee handbook

It’s vital that employees are aware of the support and guidance you provide as a company. Clearly highlight them in your employee handbook. Remember, it isn’t always easy for someone to admit to their employer they’re struggling, so signposting everything is the perfect starting point.

Speak to someone

The most important thing to know is that you’re not alone. The following are there to support employees when they need it most.

• GP / Doctor
• NHS – Call 111
• Samaritans – 116 123
• Mind
• Andysmanclub

Don’t forget

Starting a conversation about someone’s mental wellbeing can at times be overwhelming, but a comprehensive support package can help set you on the right path. To find out how our Marketplace team can help you improve your employee benefit proposition, get in touch today.