Wellbeing & Mental Health

Sneakers shoes and arrows pointing in different directions on asphalt floor, life and studies choice for young people concept

A week in the life of: A founder of a small business 

Phil Willcox

Phil Willcox from Emotion at Work reflects on the three choices he makes each week to balance his business needs, personal boundaries and emotions   It sometimes feels like you’re constantly choosing between one thing or another. Both options are useful and productive, and both deliver valuable outcomes. But they are still a choice.  In or on?  Working in the business means collaborating with our (IMHO) fantastic clients. This often involves sticky notes, large flip chart pads, Sharpies, scented pens, tangle toys and…

Are you okay? Colored stickers with the inscription. Mental health of employees at work. Team care for colleagues

Why suicide prevention training is needed now more than ever 

Ellie MacDonald

Equip teams with the skills to spot warning signs and save lives, urges Ellie MacDonald   ONS figures released recently show that suicide rates are the highest they’ve been since 1999. We lost a staggering 6,069 people to suicide in the UK alone in 2023 and this has a detrimental impact not only on people’s lives but economically, costing employers billions of pounds each year in employment productivity losses.  Next time something feels off – a colleague doesn’t seem themselves –…

Bold, prominent text "ADHD" in large, clear sans-serif font, center-aligned on a vibrant abstract background, high contrast

ADHD in the workplace: Challenges, misconceptions and the path to inclusion 

Nicole Nadler

With a few practical adjustments, organisations can create workplaces where employees with ADHD truly thrive – Nicole Nadler explains  If you’re an employer or manage a team, odds are someone in your organisation may have ADHD. While the disorder impacts everyone differently, knowing the symptoms and how they present themselves is vital.   ADHD can be categorised as inattentive, which involves difficulties in maintaining focus, organisational challenges and/or forgetfulness. There is also hyperactive, which is traditionally seen as being unable to sit…

Work-life balance An illustration of a person balancing work and personal life on a scale.

A week in the life of: A champion of women’s professional growth

Gaëlle Delmas-Watson

Discover how Gaëlle Delmas-Watson balances business, family and wellbeing, building a company that drives change  It’s Monday,10 September, 6am. The alarm goes off – it’s time to get moving! I’m Gaëlle Watson: champion of gender equality, founder of SyncSkills Performance (a company specialising in digital learning design and facilitation), mother of two boys, and recreational jogger.   In just over a month, it will be 10 years since I launched SyncSkills and, last week, my eldest son started secondary school.…

Female counselor demonstrating empathy during a breakthrough session with a client

We’re all in this together: Senior management and mental health in the workplace

Daniel Shore

Effective leadership training must go beyond technical skills, incorporating soft skills like listening and empathy – Daniel Shore explains why these are key to building resilient, supportive teams Mental health was once considered a taboo topic, rarely discussed in the workplace. While this stigma still exists in some organisations, attitudes towards mental health have changed. Many employers have, to varying degrees, started to recognise the importance of providing a supportive and collaborative environment that prioritises the wellbeing of their employees. …

Businesswoman building a growing financial chart

The future of work: From skills-based to capability-driven

Ben Satchwell

Discover how shifting the emphasis from skills to capabilities fosters growth, innovation and mental wellness with Ben Satchwell Skills, skills, skills. We’re hearing a lot about the skills revolution. Should we become a skills-based organisation or a skills-driven organisation? Are we going to do away with traditional job roles and descriptions, segment everyone by their technical skills and simply deliver our performance outcomes based on fluid and dynamic projects?  I’m not so sure.  From the conversations I have, organisations are realising…

Hangover Woman Drinking Coffee Wearing Sunglasses in the Office. Sleepy businesswoman working after a night of partying

From holiday relaxation to work reality: Ease your return to the office routine 

Lesley Cooper

Struggling to settle back into work after a holiday? Try these strategies to maximise productivity. Lesley Cooper has your three-step plan   As your much-anticipated holiday comes to an end, returning to work can feel particularly challenging, draining the energy you replenished during your break. While many people assume they are alone in feeling this way, the ‘post-holiday blues’ are quite common, even for those who enjoy their job.  By focusing on the three key strategies you will find it…

The soda samplers raise their glasses in a toast eagerly anticipating the first sip.

Boozy dinners are so 2000. Let’s rethink work culture and focus on inclusivity 

Alex Clapp

Help employees thrive by tackling workplace drinking culture and creating inclusive, alcohol-free events for teams, writes Alex Clapp  Employee wellbeing has never been more of a priority. From safeguarding mental health and helping staff navigate the current cost-of-living challenges to promoting physical fitness through private healthcare and gym memberships, companies are placing a stronger focus on supporting their workforce’s overall welfare. It’s also widely recognised that these benefits are what new recruits are looking for when considering their next move.  But one issue is…

Young woman stressed in office with wall full of sticky notes. Generative AI

We spend billions on leadership development – so why are employees still stressed? 

Laura Ashley-Timms

Changing how people are managed is critical for improving employee wellbeing and increasing workplace engagement. Dominic Ashley-Timms and Laura Ashley-Timms share the strategies that can make a real difference  According to Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace, 41% of employees report experiencing “a lot of stress” at work. What’s more, it identified that those who work in companies with bad management practices are nearly 60% more likely to be stressed than those working in environments with good management practices. Managers…

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Can training prevent staff from hiding their disability?  

Chris Jay

Many employees choose not to reveal their disability in the workplace. Chris Jay explores why, and explains how the right training programmes can improve disability disclosure  It’s virtually impossible to tackle a problem that you don’t know exists, which is the position many organisations are in when it comes to addressing hidden disability disclosure in the workplace.   Around 12.8 million people in the UK have a disability you can’t see  Take for example, a member of staff who has a…