Workplace wellbeing A recent report from Unum showed that only 51% of companies have a ‘strategic approach’ in place for employee wellbeing. However it also showed that mental health is the UK’s fourth-most common cause of short-term sickness absence and the biggest cause of long-term sickness absence. So it seems like a good time to explore workplace wellbeing and how we can improve upon workplace culture and environment. We know that by taking care of employees’ mental health, we can reap the benefits with not just improved staff wellbeing but also potentially lower absenteeism, higher productivity, greater staff retention and establishing a reputation for being a caring employer and a good place to work. If you are interested in exploring this more and are looking for ways you can offer more support to employees, Unum have a whole host of resources readily available here. Closely linked to this topic, earlier this month, we were pleased to take part My Whole Self Day, a campaign created by Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England to promote inclusive and supportive cultures where employees can bring their whole selves to work. I thought it would be useful to look in more detail about what it means to bring your whole self to work, and why it’s important for mental health and wellbeing. What is My Whole Self? My Whole Self is the idea that we all have multiple aspects of our identity and experience that make us who we are, such as our background, sexuality, religion, gender, health, and mental health. These aspects are not separate or fixed, but rather fluid and interconnected, influencing how we think, feel, and behave in different situations. When we bring our whole selves to work, we are able to express ourselves authentically and openly, without having to hide or suppress any part of our identity. We are also able to recognise and appreciate the diversity and uniqueness of others, which in hand makes it easier to build meaningful and respectful relationships with our colleagues, managers, and customers. It’s important to recognise that we don’t want to force people to talk bring their whole self to work if they don’t wish How encouraging employees to bring their whole selves to work can benefit your business... 10 SPRING PROTECT NEWSLETTER Riona Mulherin Director of Marketing & Operations Paradigm
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