Business in the Community collaborates with EMCOR UK and stakeholders to enhance workplace wellbeing.
- The report emphasizes equal importance on mental and physical health.
- Active dialogue between employees and managers is encouraged to create ‘good jobs’.
- 41% of employees reported mental health issues due to work in the past year.
- Initiatives such as the Mental Health Charter and ‘This is Me’ campaign are underway.
The collaborative report by Business in the Community and EMCOR UK focuses on transforming workplace wellbeing by leveraging insights from senior business leaders and national stakeholders. It advocates for treating mental health with the same importance as physical health, emphasizing the role of employers in creating supportive work environments.
Key to the findings is the idea of fostering open communication between employees and their managers, which is pivotal in creating what are termed ‘good jobs’. Such jobs are characterized by mutual respect and understanding, providing employees the autonomy to shape their roles within organizational boundaries.
Alarming statistics reveal that 41% of employees have experienced mental health issues related to work in the past year, underscoring the urgency of addressing mental wellbeing. EMCOR UK’s response through its Mental Health Charter is significant, advocating for openness, inclusivity, and support for mental health initiatives.
The Mental Health Charter comprises various business and employee pledges, encouraging a culture of active listening and empathy. This has led to tangible outcomes, such as training over 150 managers and supervisors in resilience and mental health awareness. Additionally, the ‘This is Me’ campaign visually symbolizes support for mental health through the wearing of green ribbons.
Executive leaders like Jonathan Gawthrop stress the necessity for businesses to collaboratively address mental health challenges, highlighting that success stems from collective efforts rather than isolated initiatives. The report positions itself as a guiding framework for such collaborative endeavors.
Concluding remarks from experts like David Oldfield and Peter Cheese recommend adopting a strategic, integrated approach to workplace wellbeing. They emphasize maintaining parity between mental and physical health in workplace safety protocols and fostering inclusive cultures that encourage employees to express concerns without fear.
The initiative signifies a crucial step towards integrating mental health into workplace safety and culture, necessitating continued collaborative efforts globally.
