What is a healthy workplace?

We all need healthy workplaces, whether we experience mental health difficulties or not. The mental health needs of employees are not a separate issue to their other needs. Looking after mental health and promoting wellbeing is simply good business practice.

A healthy workplace is one where we feel valued, where we don’t feel uncomfortable or worried and where we know that our employer has our best interests at heart and where in turn we feel that the contribution that we make is valued and rewarded.

A healthy workplace is one where we know that our concerns are not ignored and where our employers meet their duty to make sure that we are not put under unnecessary stress or discomfort.

A healthy workplace is one where each of us can work to the best of our ability, secure in the knowledge that we are contributing to both our own success and the success of the organisation that employs us.

We all benefit from healthy workplaces.  As employees and employers, healthy workplaces help us to be productive.  They allow us to face challenges effectively and to make the most of opportunities.

Unhealthy workplaces suffer from low morale, poor teamwork, reduced creativity, high staff turn over and higher rates of absence.

How do I make my workplace healthier? A five-step guide for employers

This section is a short guide to steps that a company or organisation can take to increase the mental wellbeing of employees and make sure that any staff that experience mental health difficulties can be fully supported and enabled to make a full contribution to the success of the business.

It is adapted from the Shift Line Managers Resource and a number of other useful resources.

• Step One:  Promote Wellbeing
• Step Two:  Develop and implement policies and practice
• Step Three:  Reduce and manage stress
• Step Four:  Support staff
• Step Five:  Be positive about recruiting staff with experience of mental health difficulties

Tags: healthy workplaces, managing absence, mental distress, mental wellbeing, unnecessary stress