Your Wellbeing Partner

As workers head back to their offices, a new study has found that “dealing with people” has become the biggest struggle workers are reporting when it comes to caring for their wellbeing.

Wim Hoff, also known as The Iceman, is an extreme athlete known for his ability to withstand freezing conditions. He believes “if you can learn how to use your mind, anything is possible” and he applies this principle to all that he practices and preaches.  

In the hybrid work environment that we now find ourselves in soft skills have become more important than ever. A recent survey conducted by recruitment specialist Drake International found that organisations that have been working remotely now consider communication (84.5%), work ethic (47.6%), followed by adaptability (38.8%) to be the most critical to productivity. 

There is no question that happiness and productivity in the workplace go hand in hand. Not surprisingly, creating a happy workforce is integral to the success, sustainability and viability of any organisation. The pursuit of happiness is widely recognised globally, with endless workplace benefits on the individual, team and organisational level.

The year of 2020 was unprecedented and forced individuals, teams and organisations into a complete state of disarray. The events of the year caused all sorts of challenges, both at home and at work, personally and professionally.

International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.The global theme for International Women’s Day in 2021 is ‘Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World’. COVID-19 has impacted women and girls in profound ways, amplifying the inequalities they face every day. It is fundamental that diverse women’s voices and experiences are central to national and global recovery plans.

Around the world, employees continue to confront emotional challenges from the upheaval resulting from the pandemic. The uncertainty of these times has increased anxiety and stress levels, as well as depression. This has heightened the focus on the health and well-being of staff, many of whom feel compelled to stay switched on at all times.

Research from Swinburne University suggests that 1 in 4 Australians are experiencing loneliness, a condition which has been linked to poor mental and physical health outcomes. In 2020 the loneliness “epidemic” has been further exacerbated by the impact of social distancing. Added to this, we're now entering the festive period which is known for heightening feelings of isolation.

This year's global pandemic has forced us to reassess the way in which we live and work, accelerated the adoption of new digital services and technologies, and made organisations question the way in which they operate day-to-day. COVID has redefined how we work, live, travel, shop, socialise and engage with others, changing the world that we live in forever. 

In the month of November, we recognise White Ribbon Day and the United Nations 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. In 2020, this cause is more important than ever, as the world was asked to stay home to curb the impact of COVID-19, which has seen an alarming increase in cases of domestic and family violence.

2020 has been an eye-opening year. We have been fronted with challenges in our reality, that we couldn’t have imagined in our dreams. For many of us, this year has been a bad dream that we’re waiting to wake up from.

When life knocks you down, are you quick to pick yourself up and adapt to the circumstances? or do you find yourself completely overwhelmed with little confidence in your ability to deal with the challenges?

Worried about putting your foot in it? It's important to discuss mental health with people you care about, but if you don't use tact and compassion, your help may do more harm than good.

The world right now is far from normal and the economic and mental health challenges will extend beyond the pandemic. Identifying the risks and showing support for your employees and colleagues will help alleviate some stress and anxiety around transitioning to the next stage.

Men’s health week this year is June 15-21 and is an important opportunity to highlight important issues impacting Australian men and increase the awareness about some important health issues that commonly affect men and let you know what actions you can take.

A decade-long study from Harvard University highlights the importance of supportive relationships. During Covid however, it’s normal for family relationships and even friendships to be under strain. After all we may be spending too much time together at home, or we may feel increasingly disconnected from friends.

Just because most of us are working from home these days, does not necessarily mean we have more time to spare. We are often juggling children and work and adjusting to a new routine. These ideas may help you to save time when it comes to buying and preparing food.

We all know the effect of exercise on our physical health, but what are it's effects on our mental health?

For humans, some level of anxiety is useful and actually motivates us into action. However, anxiety becomes unhelpful when it interferes with our ability to function normally and reduces our wellbeing. In these situations, your anxiety is like “a bully”, directing you into behaviours and thinking styles which aren’t productive and instead lead you to feeling increasingly helpless.

As the world grapples with the coronavirus outbreak, and people adjust to a new way of working, it’s normal to feel confused and anxious. Change can be unsettling, especially when there are so many unknowns. Being exposed to large volumes of news and negative information can compound feelings of anxiety.

Bullying and harassment is a psychological hazard that can cause injury to employees. At an organisational level, these behaviours can result in absence from work, increased turnover and reduced productivity.

R U OK? Day is Thursday 12th September 2019. A national day of action dedicated to reminding everyone to ask, “Are you OK?” and to remember every day of the year is a day to support people who may be struggling with life’s ups and downs.

The idea of change can be unsettling and uncomfortable for some. As humans, it is completely normal to fear change due to the uncertainty around it. At the same time, it is inevitable, and in a business environment, essential for that business to be able to survive. 

This year Men’s Health Week runs from June 10th to 16th and we want to use this opportunity to increase the awareness about some important health issues that commonly affect men and let you know what actions you can take.

Research has shown that what we eat has an impact on our mental health, as well as our physical health. It can affect our energy levels, sleeping patterns and focus. By making a few changes in our daily routine, we can improve our mental health!

Many managers mistakenly fear that efforts focused on reducing employee stress require reducing productivity or creating a “country club” atmosphere of low expectations and reduced workloads. Thus, they shy away from even talking about employee stress.

Employee Assistance Programs (EAP’s) have been around for many years. The evolution of EAP’s over the last 60 years has led to the development of a diverse range of employee services. EAP’s are no longer a luxury, but a necessity.

The year of 2020 was unprecedented and forced individuals, teams and organisations into a complete state of disarray. The events of the year caused all sorts of challenges, both at home and at work, personally and professionally.

The Employee Assistance Program services are a $276.8m market in Australia. This year alone, the industry has grown 4.1% and 3.3% in the last 5 years - a rate faster than that of the economy (ABS, 2021). There are 265 players in the Australian market led by Benestar, Reventure, International APM group, and Lifeworks.com. 

Would you believe that Australian businesses have some of the highest rates of employee attrition globally? The greatest flight risk is among workers under 30 years of age - 28% of them are looking to change jobs within their first year of employment and more than 50% are planning to exit within two years.

If the prospect of more change leaves your gut churning, makes your hands suddenly sweaty, and floods your brain with feelings of fear, you’re in good company.  Studies have found that your brain is uniquely vulnerable to uncertainty with some researchers even arguing that fear of the unknown is what gives rise to all the other fears you experience.

Is it just me, or when you read, listen, and consume new information about how to care for wellbeing in the workplace do you find ‘a-ha!’ moments everywhere you look?  With the science of wellbeing maturing over the last 25 years, there’s been some enormous advances in our knowledge on how we can help people to better understand, care for and share their wellbeing in workplaces.