1. Biz Network April 2021 1-40.qxp_Chamberlink 26/03/2021 11:03 Page 4
MEMBER NEWS
New book explores wellbeing in the workplace
Sue Grogan
A Leicester businesswoman has authored a new e-book on workplace wellbeing – and is urging workplaces in the East Midlands to implement robust wellness and mental health programmes. Business wellbeing consultant Sue Grogan wrote her latest book, Wellbeing: Healthy Staff, Healthy Business – Lessons Learned in Lockdown, following interviews with 15 business leaders discussing how they had responded to the pandemic, what worked well and key learnings. Among the participants includes East Midlands Chamber chief
executive Scott Knowles and president Eileen Richards MBE, the managing director of ER Recruitment, as well as Nelsons head of family law Glynis Wright MBE, Blueprint Interiors CEO Rob Day and Anicca Digital director Ann Stanley.
‘I saw many businesses struggling during lockdown and, at the same time, so many supporting each other’ During the discussions, Sue – who founded Leicester-based wellbeing strategy business Joined-Up Working in 2011 – discovered that when businesses moved operations online, leaders communicated with
staff through regular virtual events and “catch-ups”, trusting staff to manage their time around home life responsibilities. Those businesses that supported staff health and wellbeing, and actively involved departments in discussions about new working methods, were rewarded with loyalty and maintained productivity. Sue, who is donating half the proceeds of her fourth book to Loughborough charity Alex’s Wish, said: “I saw many businesses struggling during lockdown and, at the same time, so many supporting each other. As the UK starts to emerge from another lockdown, I wanted to capitalise on this and share my learnings with other businesses in the region.” Sue is also a partner at Wellonomics, a happiness and wellbeing assessment tool that
provides HR teams with an overview of how departments are faring, and makes recommendations for training and support. Despite investment in health and wellbeing benefits, Sue’s e-book also explains the lack of strategic focus on health and wellness programmes. She said 70% of the interviewees did not have a budget for health and wellness, and only 9% were actively measuring their ROI from wellbeing programmes. Sue added: “Employee wellbeing is key to a business’ success. “Worryingly, a recent research poll found less than half of UK employers have an overarching wellbeing strategy in place. “There is a potential storm brewing around the mental health and wellbeing of the workforce. Businesses who ignore this do so at their peril.”
Hope Health in partnership with Dudes & Dogs Hope Health has announced a partnership with national men’s mental health community interest group Dudes & Dogs. The partnership will see both teams working together to support mental health awareness in workplaces and communities nationwide. While the core mission at Dudes & Dogs is focused on men, like Hope Health – which provides mental health first aid training and wellbeing services – it believes mental health is important to all. Hope Health founder Nicole O’Callaghan said: “I’m so excited to support and work alongside
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business network April 2021
Dudes & Dogs. Having supported the team recently with its mental health first aid qualifications, I know first-hand the passion and hard work it puts into this voluntary-led initiative.”
The partnership’s initial focus is to create new training workshops and a consultancy service for organisations to train and enable them to support their employees' wellbeing needs. Dudes & Dogs founder Rob Osman said: “Here at Dudes, our vision is for men in every corner of the world to know it's not just okay to talk, it's vitally important. "Collaborating with Hope Health has allowed us to accelerate and grow the support we can offer to businesses and organisations. We can't wait to see where this partnership leads.”
