A Pinch of Zest: Supporting employee mental wellbeing

‘I think as an organisation, leading from the front is the most powerful thing we can do. Make the time and space available to listen to podcasts, to have roundtables, to invite people in to talk about their experiences, and to share the tools and resources other people use to help them with their mental health and wellbeing. This adds to a level of normalising. We all experience highs and lows of mental health, and it’s about sharing the tools and techniques that are helpful.

Welcome back to ‘A Pinch of Zest’, our podcast that looks to add a little something extra to how you better support your colleagues.

On our latest episode, we were delighted to be joined by Sheila Kissane-Marshall, the CEO and founder of Boutros Bear, a company that aim to reduce employee presenteeism, absenteeism and attrition by delivering transformative care, recovery, and rehabilitation programmes for chronic and persistent conditions. Their offering includes mental wellbeing support for both employees and family members dealing with bereavement, Menopausal support.

Throughout the podcast, host Josh Sweetman-Lemay and Sheila look into why it’s key to create a workplace environment where employees feel supported to discuss their mental wellbeing.

Research from Zest has found that 83% of employees are demanding more benefits that contribute to their wellbeing, with 57% of businesses admitting wellbeing is at an all-time low.

With more needing to be done to support colleagues, some of the key areas that our most recent episode covers include

• Supporting colleagues both inside and outside of the workplace
• Why leadership coaching and management workshops are important
• The simple steps for employees that can help them better prioritise mental wellbeing.

‘When it comes to investing in wellbeing, the biggest thing for me is employee retention. You can naturally find the right resources, but If employees can get the support they need  from their employer, they’re  going to stay in the workplace. Retention of staff, and their knowledge, is an enormous economic factor for the employer to think about.’

As the CEO and founder of Boutros Bear, Sheila is on a mission to revolutionise the healthcare industry by providing a hybrid digital platform that supports employers and employees in managing chronic physical and mental illnesses. With over 5 years of experience in leading a growing team of experts, she is responsible for having successfully secured a number of contracts with large and medium-sized companies, delivering tailored solutions that improve health outcomes, reduce costs, and enhance productivity.

Sheila is a passionate advocate for environmental and social causes, serving as a trustee for The Cancer Platform, a charity that connects cancer patients with researchers and clinicians. Additionally, Sheila is the co-chair of the Environment Design Group at Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, where she contributes to the creation of a sustainable and patient-centered facility.

You can listen to the full podcast episode below.