Corporate Health, Wellness and Mental Health

Make Workplace Wellbeing your Point of Difference (and Value)

I’ve been thinking lately about how the seismic shift in the workplace dynamic is now accepted practice. Driven by necessity, Work From Home (WFH) and increased flexibility has become the norm. The structured environments; productivity; workflow and interaction central to business operations for decades, have morphed into hybrid ‘here/there’ experiences.

And it’s not just where people work that’s under the spotlight. How they feel; what they expect and need, is intensified by a global, escalating and complex challenge: Workplace Mental Health

Business Can (and should) Lead Positive Change

Like many organisations, we take the challenge of mental health seriously. The evidence for action is confronting:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 1 in 4 people globally will experience a mental health issue during their life.
• Shockingly, suicide is the second leading cause of death in people aged 15-29 years.  

It emphasises that we all have a responsibility to address this head on.

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Having Access to the Right Resources is Critical

To assist with developing an appropriate approach, the recent Black Dog Institute Report “Modern work: how changes to the way we work are impacting Australians’ mental health”, identifies the:

• Characteristics of modern work, and the modern workforce
• Implications of mental health issues on people and organisations
• Important conclusions about the mental health of Australians in the workplace
• Changes needed (by business and gov’t) to support and better protect our workers. 

We highly recommend reading the report, which you can download here.

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It’s Important to Keep Things Balanced

It’s clear flexibility in the workplace is important in supporting employee wellbeing. It’s beneficial to have a nuanced view of what “working” looks like. Permission to choose how and when you work (without being judged) can be a powerful cultural tool. It empowers people to take ownership of their work; fostering autonomy; trust; a stronger sense of purpose and, overall happiness. 

Removing rigid 9-5 work hours allows the modern worker to achieve and succeed; and accomplish other things in life. However, too much flexibility or time at home can result in loneliness and lack of direction. Face-to-Face team interaction is important to maintain and build internal camaraderie; to strengthen team goals everyone can work towards.

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Workplace Wellbeing is Win/Win: For your People, and Brand

I believe GSA has balanced flexible working arrangements and maintaining our office culture and values the company has been built on. Listening to the wants and needs of our people is also important in this complex, changeable world.

Our informal Wellness program was expanded during Covid via a dedicated budget, framework and committee, including:

• Listening sessions, regular surveys and socialising/discussing results;
• Proactive leadership that champions safe spaces to talk about feelings;
• Encouraging healthy and positive habits, aligned to the GSA values and culture;
• Challenges, newsletters, fun runs, blood donations
• Sharing ideas and initiatives that drive healthy habits

If you’d like a more information on our approach, I’d be happy to speak with you directly (because making the connection counts).

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