Employee wellbeing benefits

Interest in trusted techniques that will bring focus, calm. and workplace wellbeing are growing. When the UK went into lockdown in 2020, and in the years that have followed the pandemic, there has been an increased awareness of the role employers can play in supporting the wellbeing of their employees, and that this support is critical in order to retain top talent in an increasingly competitive jobs market.

One of the most commonly discussed approaches has been mindfulness, and the role mindfulness can ploy in encouraging employee wellbeing, satisfaction and engagement.

In this blog post, we explore the origins and benefits of mindfulness for better mental health and employee wellbeing, and ways to introduce mindfulness in your workplace.

Where does mindfulness come from?

Although it has seen an increase in use over the past 50 years, mindfulness has been practiced for millennia and has roots in many Eastern philosophies. It can be seen in the yoga practices of Hinduism, sati and breathing exercises within Buddhism, and qi gong exercise within Daoism.

As it moved into Western society, mindfulness has become an approach used by psychologists and psychiatrists to help patients suffering from depression, anxiety, stress, drug addiction, and certain personality disorders.

Mental health in the workplace

As people's lives become increasingly non-stop and the separation between work and personal life more blurred, an “always-on” mentality can have negative effects on your employees and your business. A culture of overwork can result in burnout, with the effects of longer office hours, commutes, and work at the weekends taking their toll on employees’ physical health and mental wellbeing.

A survey conducted by YouGov highlighted A fifth of working Britons have taken time off work for their mental health, their results found that:

Overall, one in five British workers (19%) say they have taken time off work because of their mental health, with 74% saying they have not.

Four in 10 (42%) say they were worried or embarrassed about talking about mental health issues with their employer, and the same number say they would prefer their employer not to know about their mental health issues.

The benefits of mindfulness at work

The popularity of mindfulness in the workplace has grown hugely in recent years, with companies from Google to Nike, and even the NHS, implementing mindfulness training programmes for their employees. Aside from the benefits for productivity, research has also shown that mindfulness techniques can help staff better manage their mental health, stress levels, and emotions in the workplace, leading to improved wellbeing and job satisfaction.

A UK survey report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found that:

• Half of organisations (51%) take a strategic approach to employee wellbeing, while 36% are ‘much more reactive than proactive’.
• In workplaces that employees consider mentally healthy, self-reported absenteeism as a result of experiencing mental ill-health is almost half.
• Organisations that take a strategic approach to wellbeing are far more likely to report a number of positive outcomes for both employees and the organisation. Leaders that value mental health have reported more productive employees and have claimed their approach to employee wellbeing has improved their employer branding.

Introducing mindfulness in your business

There are several ways you can introduce mindfulness into the workplace to improve the wellbeing of your employees. Below are three top tips to get you started to encourage employee health.

1. Encourage mindful techniques at work

Introduce mindfulness knowledge and techniques throughout your business. If you have the funding and resources, consider creating wellbeing programs that offer training in mindfulness, and building it into management and development courses to ensure employees at all levels are able to benefit. This in turn should improve employee retention as well as employee morale, which will improve your company culture long-term.

If you don't have the budget or resources for this, you can still introduce the concept of mindfulness and some exercises for your employees to try. It could be as simple as encouraging employees to take ten minutes at the start of the day for a breathing exercise before checking their emails. Breathing exercises not only increase the flow of oxygen to the brain (improving alertness and focus) but can also instill a sense of calm and purpose, creating a positive mindset for the day ahead. This can be introduced through an employee wellbeing strategy which can be implemented and should be encouraged in your working environment and at home during flexible working hours. Promoting your employees’ physical wellbeing through encouraging the purchase of gym memberships, and regular check-ups for health issues is another cost-effective way to promote employee health and manage work-related stress.

Additionally, employee wellbeing can be promoted in the office by removing the negative stigma of taking sick days. We know that working while feeling unwell can lead to sicknesses remaining for longer and becoming more serious. If the unnecessary pressure of presenteeism is removed and employees are given a proper chance to recover before returning to work, you will likely see an increase in productivity and morale, as well as a long-term improvement in the number of working days missed due to sickness. 

2. Create a quiet space in the office

With the popularity of open-plan offices unlikely to change any time soon, it's a good idea to give your staff a quiet space to practice their mindfulness (or just to take a moment).

Of course, not every employee will want to sit on cushions and meditate, so why not simply create a quiet and ideally ‘tech-free’ zone in the workspace, where employees can focus without the distraction of office chatter and mobile devices? For some companies, the addition of greenery or indoor plants and calming, nature-based imagery in the office can prove beneficial - artwork of team successes can also work well and is a positive reminder of the business they choose to work for. Encouraging team members to step away from screens can have a significant and positive impact on employees’ physical and mental health. Oftentimes, the best ideas come when people aren't feeling stressed, and great breakthroughs can happen when someone removes the hustle and noise of the typical office to take a moment to breathe and relax.

3. Make time for mindfulness

How often do you see your employees eating at their desks? When deadlines are looming and the pressure is on, it can be tempting for employees to stay chained to their computers. Encourage your employees to take regular breaks, including a proper lunch break, and promote a healthy work-life balance. Studies have shown that regular breaks can improve the overall productivity of staff, and benefit their mental wellbeing. Try to make sure employees actually step away from their desks and go for a quick walk to re-energise, carry out a breathing exercise, or head to a quiet space in the office (like the area we recommended above).

Studies have also shown that there is a direct link between employee wellbeing and job satisfaction. Taking regular breaks and working from home occasionally can contribute to lower stress levels and a better workplace culture. Healthcare should also be a top priority for employers, this could be implemented as a wellbeing benefit as part of a benefits package, or health insurance, as there is substantial evidence that stress does have physical effects on the body. Showing your staff you care about their health through wellbeing initiatives will increase your employees’ experience, which will encourage better decision-making and employee engagement.

Looking for more mindfulness tips for the workplace? Read our article on mindfulness and employee productivity to find out more about the benefits of mindfulness for your employees and business.

Blog Home