Supporting Workplace Wellbeing

Why should business owners invest their time and the time of their staff in a workplace health programme?

Latest figures from the Mental Health Foundation report that 875,000 workers in the UK suffer from work-related stress, depression and anxiety. Sickness costs UK employees £29 billion a year.

Workplace wellbeing programmes can have a significant impact on the health and happiness of employees. National evaluations of healthy workplace programmes show that for every £1 spent on healthy workplace initiatives, businesses benefit from between £2 and £32 in reduced sickness, turnover and improved productivity.

The Medway Workplace Wellbeing Award supports and recognises businesses of all sizes that strive to be healthy places to work. It is completely free to join. Businesses benefit from training, policy writing, staff activities and work towards a tiered award scheme by completing a number of pledges. Since 2018, over 200 businesses have taken part in the awards programme.

Bal Sandher is Managing Director of Nutra Direct, a manufacturer of health supplements in Medway and a Platinum Workplace Wellbeing Award winner. Nutra Direct was recently ranked 4th in a list of 2024’s 50 fastest growing companies, compiled by Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce.

Established in 2015, Nutra Direct employs 150 staff. They joined the Healthy Workplace Programme in 2022, wanting to support staff’s mental health at a time of rapid growth for the business. In fact, the benefits to the company have been for more wide reaching, as Bal comments, ‘What we have seen as time has gone on is that staff absences are down, staff turnover is down, all things which massively contribute to the growth of our business.

The Healthy Workplaces Programme is open to all businesses in Medway. If you’d like to find out more visit www.medway.gov.uk/workplacehealth, email workplacehealth@medway.gov.uk or call 01634 334355

Joining the Medway Workplace Wellbeing Award Programme has not meant taking on a lot of new work and has fitted in with the company’s business objectives. For us as a business we’ve not seen a burden from taking on this additional work as part of the healthy workplace programme. It’s all work that we either needed to do or wanted to do and again maybe we didn’t have the right support to actually enact it.’

‘Previously we were trying to make changes to suit everyone, which is very difficult. Now we’re able to cater changes to staff requirements individually.’

Nutra Direct have been able to use the resources and support provided by the Medway Workplace Wellbeing Award Programme to create an annual staff survey, which they use to monitor staff satisfaction. They also hold drop-in surgeries with managers, host an online feedback form and provide an anonymous suggestion box. Through the award programme staff members have been able to access free mental health awareness and resilience training. These initiatives have been received positively, with staff saying they like the approachable and social culture of the business.

In addition to mental health, the Medway Workplace Wellbeing Award Programme offers guidance to employers across a number of areas of staff wellbeing. These include managing absence and staff turnover, healthy eating and healthy weight, stopping smoking, physical activity and active travel, musculoskeletal health, alcohol and substance misuse and the environment and sustainability.

Physical activity is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your health and wellbeing. Engaging in regular physical activity can have profound effects on both your body and mind. Active Kent & Medway, the local active partnership, share some key strategies and insights on how to incorporate physical activity and moving more into our everyday lives.

Understanding Physical Activity

Physical activity includes any movement that requires energy, such as walking, dancing, housework, gardening, and sports. The national guidelines recommend adults achieve at least 150 minutes of moderately intense activity each week (where your breathing increases but you are still able to talk) plus balance and strength activities twice a week. In Kent, one third of men and nearly half of women do not meet these recommended levels.

Benefits of Physical Activity

“If physical activity were a drug, we would refer to it as a miracle cure, due to the great many illnesses it can prevent and help treat.”

UK Chief Medical Officer

Strategies to Incorporate Physical Activity

“For good physical and mental health, adults should aim to be physically active every day. Any activity is better than none, and more is better still.”

UK Chief Medical Officer

• Set Realistic Goals: Start with small, achievable goals and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your activities. This can help build confidence and ensure long-term adherence to an active lifestyle. Even if 150 minutes isn’t achievable, every minute counts!

• Find Activities You Enjoy: Whether it is dancing, hiking, swimming, or playing a sport, finding something you love will make it easier to stay active.

• Make It Social: Engage in physical activities with friends, family, or community groups. Social interaction can enhance enjoyment and provide additional motivation to stay active.

• Incorporate Activity into Daily Routines: Look for opportunities to be active throughout the day. This can include taking the stairs instead of the lift, walking or cycling to work, or doing household chores. Small changes can add up to significant health benefits.

• Use Technology: Utilise fitness apps, wearable devices, and online resources to track your progress and stay motivated. Many apps offer workout plans, challenges, reminders, and virtual communities to support your fitness journey.

• Workplace Wellbeing: A physically active workforce means a healthy, happy business. Employers can support physical activity by providing resources and opportunities for employees to stay active at work. This can include on-site fitness facilities, wellness programs, activity challenges and flexible work schedules to accommodate more movement throughout the working day.

Overcoming Barriers

• Time Management: Prioritise your schedule to include time for movement. This can be two or three 10-minute bursts of activity throughout the day. At work, this could be a lunchtime walk or a walking meeting with colleagues.

• Motivation: Staying motivated can be challenging. Set clear goals, track your progress, and reward yourself for achievements. Joining a group or finding an ‘activity buddy’ can also provide accountability and encouragement.

Find your Everyday Active Incorporating physical activity into our everyday lives is essential for improving health and wellbeing. By understanding the benefits, setting realistic goals, overcoming barriers and finding enjoyable activities, we can all create a sustainable and active lifestyle at home and at work.