Why “Cracking Down on Sick Notes” Doesn’t Tackle the Real Problem
“GPs should start recommending gym memberships and job coaches over fit notes.” That’s the line from The Telegraph’s recent reporting on a new government pilot scheme — WorkWell — being trialled across 15 high-unemployment areas in the UK. According to The Times (June 24, 2024), fit notes have more than doubled from 5.3 million in 2015 to over 11 million in 2024, with 93% […]
The Importance of Human Connection in the Workplace
When Cheryl Samuels FCIPD, Director of People and Culture at Evelina Women & Children’s, recently shared her observations on LinkedIn about workplace communication, it resonated deeply with me. Cheryl highlighted how many people today rely on emails and messages instead of having face-to-face or phone conversations, questioning whether we are losing the ability to connect. […]
Bridging the Gap Between High Performance and Wellbeing
The Secret to High Performance at Work During my time as an HR leader, the concept of ‘high performance’ was a significant focal point in our HR strategies. Back then, the term “high performance” often felt like a buzzword, and nowadays, it seems the spotlight has shifted to the notion of ‘agile working.’ During my […]
Understanding the Dimensions of Employee Wellbeing
What Are the Key Dimensions of Employee Wellbeing? Employee wellbeing includes physical, emotional, social, and financial health, as well as factors like resilience, work-life balance, and job satisfaction. There’s no single “right” model; what matters most is creating a wellbeing strategy that reflects the unique needs of your people and workplace. Depending on where you […]
What is Psychological Safety?
Why Psychological Safety at Work Is More Than a Buzzword Psychological safety in the workplace isn’t just the latest HR trend; it’s the missing piece behind employee wellbeing, performance, and trust. When leaders understand how to foster psychological safety, they unlock higher engagement, stronger team cohesion, and a culture where people feel safe enough to […]
How is Happiness Measured in the Workplace?
What Every HR Leader Needs to Know About Engagement, Emotion, and the Neuroscience of Happiness Let’s be honest: as HR professionals, we’ve tried it all. In-house massage.Chill-out zones and employee wellness rooms.Table tennis.Subsidised yoga and gym discounts.Mental health days.Employee recognition platforms. We do all this because we care deeply about our people. We want to […]
The Surprising Impact of Mental Health Training for Managers
Mental Health Training for Managers: The ROI Most Organisations Are Missing When I worked in HR, mental health training for managers was pretty much nonexistent! I recall working as the Head of HR at British Airways Holidays and thinking we were leading edge by arranging CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) for an employee struggling with anxiety […]
The Two Biggest Fears Managers Have Around Mental Health (And How to Overcome Them)
The Two Biggest Fears Managers Have Around Mental Health – And How to Overcome Them When it comes to mental health conversations in the workplace, most managers aren’t resisting out of apathy; they’re hesitating out of fear. In our work delivering mental health training for managers across a wide range of industries, two fears come up time […]
Can Happiness Be Measured?
After more than a decade of working with thousands of clients in one-to-one sessions, there’s one theme I’ve heard over and over again: “I just want to feel happier.” It sounds so simple. And yet, when I gently ask, “What will let you know that you’re feeling happier, more of the time?” …there’s often a […]
January is a Great Time to Kick off Your Workplace Wellbeing Programme
Why January Matters for Employee Wellbeing The holiday season, with its abundance of festivities, can often lead to indulgence in rich foods, alcohol, and relaxation. As we bid farewell to the last traces of our holiday treats and the calendar flips to January, many people find themselves facing the challenge of returning to work with […]