Part 1 addressed the importance we place on a healthy work-life balance. Part 2 was the importance of the 5 steps to Mental Wellbeing as the base for planning activities which intertwine with each other to support improved physical/mental wellbeing.
This final blog looks at how CEM Solutions actively support & promote positive mental & physical wellbeing. The most important part of this relates to the culture of the workplace – it could be argued that this is the most important part of all!
The aim is that a CEM Solutions employee feels that their wellbeing and health is important to their managers and colleagues, that they are valued and that they can be their ‘whole selves’ at work, being honest about challenges and difficulties they face. I believe that this culture can only be cultivated in a workplace if it is led from the top of the company. At CEM Solutions all managers are trained in Mental Health awareness at varying levels:
- 1 Director and 1 Senior Manager are trained Mental Health First Aiders
- All Management are trained in ‘Mental Health Awareness’ and ‘Managing Mental Health’
- As the lead for promoting Wellbeing in the workplace I’ve undertaken additional training, including:
- Mental Health & Wellbeing in the Modern Workplace
- Restorative Practices for Inclusive & Learning Organisations
- IOSH Managing Occupational Health & Wellbeing
Once employees feel secure in the knowledge that their mental & physical wellbeing is of major importance to the Company, any activities which are planned have a structure to hang on to – they’re not just there as a ‘tick box’ activity!
There’s so many different factors to think about in supporting good physical & mental health and we aim to explore these as a business over the coming months and years, primarily through workshops or ‘taster’ sessions.
On this month’s ‘All-In’ day we had a great time together making (and sampling!) a variety of smoothies. Our guest speaker taught us about why a healthy gut is important and how to create and maintain good gut health! The link between gut health and mental health is a close one so this really felt like we were having a double whammy of wellbeing input from an expert in the field!
Prioritising wellbeing activities in the workplace is a way to bond over a shared activity, learn something new and ultimately we come back round to the overall mantra that:
“Supporting a happier, healthier team creates a happier, healthier business!”
Blog by Jo Lloyd