Workplace Health and Wellbeing:

Why it is so crucial in today’s market and how you can implement it within your team and company.

A Workshop By

© The Coaching Company

Agenda 1. WHAT IS HEALTH AND WELLBEING?

2. WORKPLACE HEALTH AND WELLBEING PROGRAMS

!  WHY? (The purpose)

!  WHAT? (The options of what it might look like)

!  HOW? (The ways in which you could implement it)

3. GOAL SETTING

Definition of Health According to World Health

Organization (WHO):

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social

wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”

Physical health is determined by human biology, environment,

lifestyle and healthcare.

Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual

realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to

her or his community.

Social wellbeing involves a person's relationships with

others and how that person communicates,

interacts and socializes with other people. It can also

relate to how people make friends and

whether they have a sense of belonging.

Market Factors Impacting Our Businesses Today

! Tight budgets means reduced resources and creation of lean teams therefore workloads are up

! The pace and intensification of our work and environment has increased

•  A global economy means long / unsociable hours for those responsible for communicating with overseas colleagues, suppliers and clients

•  Within multinational organizations,

underperforming regions can impact local operations and budgets even when the local operation is performing well

•  Environments have become extremely complex, including:

•  cultural complexities •  matrix reporting lines •  large scale change projects

! Job security and promotion / development opportunities are often lacking

! Retirement age is likely to be extended for the majority of the population in order to meet superannuation shortfalls and longer life expectancies (Financial Times Guides: Business Coaching, Anne Scoular)

So From An Employee Perspective….

! I have an increased workload;

! I have to work longer hours;

! I will have to work for a considerable number of years longer…

Yet I am told to expect….

! Less financial rewards

! Less support, recognition and prospects for promotion

! Less job security

Potentially Resulting In…

! Reduced levels of motivation

! Reduced levels of productivity

! Reduced levels of job satisfaction

! Increased levels of stress and mental health issues

! Increased sick leave

! Increased staff turnover

ALL OF WHICH HAVE FINANCIAL AND CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS FOR YOUR

BUSINESSES

Mental Health !  United Nations reports stress as the second

highest cause of morbidity after heart disease

!  Federal government of Australia “Mental illness affects nearly every Australian” (2011)

!  Leading cause of disability in Australia

!  41% of Australians reported experiencing unhealthy levels of stress (2009)

!  37.9% of leaders (executives) display caseness (symptoms of mental ill-health without diagnosis)

Research Shows… ! When workplace support is low, rates of

absence increase;

! When workplace support is high, intention to resign is reduced

! Having the power to make decisions reduces rates of absences and turnover and increases performance and job satisfaction

(www.who.int/occupational_health/topics/brunpres0307.pdf)

Research Also Supports… Coaching can provide a framework to satisfy three

basic psychological needs:

1.  Autonomy

2.  Competence

3.  Relatedness

Which together create foundation for human functioning and well-being.

(Coaching With Self-Determination In Mind

Spence & Oades, 2011)

How does this research relate

to you and your team?

What impact does this have?

Why Implement a Workplace Wellbeing Program?

!  High stress resulting in low performance, high sick leave and high turnover costs your business money

!  Looking after your employees can help you to become an employer of choice which means improving retention rates and attracting good people

!  If we are facing the prospect of working for longer, why not create a place of work that we enjoy going to?

!  This can be a great opportunity for team building and collaboration (relatedness)

What Are Your Options? 1. Create a policy that says you support the

wellbeing of your employees?

2.  Integrate health and wellbeing into your company culture?

3. Provide an education program that raises awareness about health and wellbeing?

4.  Support employees by making health and wellbeing activities accessible to them?

5.  Leaders as promoters that lead by example?

1. Create a Health & Wellbeing Policy

!  This is a great starting point but remember, it is empty words unless you are willing to back it up with specific actions

!  Your policy should include goals and objectives as well as a strategy for achieving them

!  You should know how to convey your policy to your employees including how they will benefit

!  Examples could include policies relating to overtime, taking lunch breaks and holidays, flexible working arrangements etc.

2. Integrate Health & Wellbeing Into Your Culture !  If your health and wellbeing policy has been done

well, integrating health and wellbeing in to your company culture can be achieved easily

!  Be clear about how your policy relates to your culture and values

!  This has to be lead from the top – as leaders your actions have to back your words!

!  Once you are living and breathing this culture, you will attract people with a similar mindset into your organization

3. Raise Awareness With An Education Program

Options could include:

!  Running workshops covering topics such as nutrition, stress management, exercise, sleep etc.

!  Sending a regular newsletter with health and wellbeing tips covering all of the topics above

!  Providing sufficient job related training to those taking on new tasks / roles to ensure that the transition is smooth and stress is minimal (competence)

4. Support !  One to one coaching or mentoring (e.g. for new

managers)

!  Team coaching (ideal for any team whether it be leadership, project, functional, regional)

!  Reward and recognition – ensure employees feel valued

!  Programs to support employees with health issues

!  Integrating health and wellbeing into one to ones, appraisals and learning & development plans

Accessibility !  Fruit and herbal teas in the office as opposed to

vending machines and biscuit tins

!  Team building activities that involve outdoor and physical pursuits as opposed to a trip to the pub

!  Gym memberships and / or group exercise (e.g. weekly yoga classes or a running club)

!  Health insurance

!  Deals and discounts for health products

5.Promotion !  Run competitions with health promoting prizes e.g.

spa vouchers, weekend retreat, fruit hamper, afternoon /day off)

!  Utilize advocates – who are the people already integrating health and wellbeing into their lives? Who is most likely to embrace health and wellbeing in the workplace? How can you utilize these people?

!  Inspirational speakers - bring in external speakers who will inspire your teams and help promote health and wellbeing

How To Implement a Health and Wellbeing Program

1. WHO? How will you involve people/ create a project team?

2. WHAT? Consider all the options

3. PROJECT PLAN Including SMART Goals

4. COMMUNCATION How will you communicate and promote your program?

Leaders As Promoters Change is driven from the top which means leading by example….

Do not expect your team to think they have permission to embrace work: life balance if you are sending them emails at 11pm!

Are they likely to be inspired if you talk about healthy eating then come to work with a McDonalds in your hand?

Research By Sunny Stout-Rostron

“There is a vital need for bold, visionary leadership that will shape our future; not just the future of our organizations and institutes

but also of our increasingly complex and inter-dependent cultures and societies.”

(The International Journal of Coaching in Organizations: How is Coaching Impacting Systemic and Cultural Change Within Organizations?

Sunny Stout-Rostron)

“….It is a newly diversified workplace driven by sustainable values (such as trust, integrity, bringing heart into relationships, health and work/life balance, and making a difference), an emerging consciousness of global issues, a need to effectively manage change and complexity, and the desire of people to ensure that their work makes a positive contribution and difference to their community. Are we, as leaders, consciously developing the talent and potential of our human communities? Are we pioneering the way forward to create a new level of consciousness that will help us to work together collaboratively with authenticity, innovation and less conflict?”

If change is driven from the top…..

Let’s start with you!

Integrating The Four R’s Into All Areas of Our Lives

Relax Rest

Recharge Replenish

What do you currently do to ensure your physical, mental and social health?

Relax – How do you switch off in the evening and unwind throughout your week? Rest – How much sleep do you get and how refreshed do you feel in the morning? Recharge – What activities do you do regularly that recharge you? Replenish – What foods and drinks do you consume (or not consume) to nourish yourself?

What could you change, start to do or stop doing to ensure your physical, social and

mental health?

Relax

Rest

Recharge

Replenish

Goal Setting

What would you like to achieve specifically? (Frame as a positive, e.g. I want to be/do/have….)

How will you know when you have achieved it? (i.e. what is the actual evidence?)

What different ways could you set about achieving this? (List a variety of options, even if they seem far fetched…)

Goal Setting Continued

What resources do you have to help you achieve this? (skills, values, tools)

Who can help you?

What is your action plan and what are your time frames? (Twice as SMART - Specific & Stretching, Measurable & Motivating, Achievable & Attractive, Realistic & Relevant, Timely & Time-framed)