Wellbeing is the new business buzzword and I've seen many different approaches to bringing this to the forefront of a business - lump sum payments to staff to spend as they see fit on their wellbeing; implementation of counselling, financial advice etc. through EAP services and social events organised. There has been an explosion of wellbeing monitoring e.g. Fitbit and apps that clock and remind hydration, diet and movement during the day while flexible working patterns improve work life balance. Wellbeing has been fast tracked to the top of the list in company policies and working practices and has become an established topic that has found its own place within the boardroom.
The momentum in which this continues knows no bounds but how great a return does wellbeing investment produce in terms of productivity and reduced sickness and absence levels. There are figures which prove wellbeing tactics aid in both of these but is too much thrown into the pot with too little return?
As a wellbeing trainer (work life balance life coach: yoga mindfulness and meditation and Pilates for posture, aches and pains), it still astounds me how much resistance there is in my clients when it comes to accepting when their wellbeing is compromised and this is especially the case if there is a long standing issue that needs management/resolving.
The questions I routinely ask and the answers I receive:
Q: Who have you seen to remedy this?
A: I haven't, I don't have the time.
Q: What are you prepared to do?
A: I'll wait and see if it goes away.
Q: Would you be prepared to pay for a diagnostic?
A: It is too much money (the excuse from one successful businessperson who would not see that paying a physio/chiropractor/osteopath was an investment and the first step in a journey that would more than likely reduce the back pain he was suffering. The same price as a meal out for two! Where is individual responsibility?)
As a wellbeing trainer, I see this time and time again - the resistance in self-management and taking matters into one's own hands is high. ‘You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink!'
Wellbeing needs training - The Inside Scoop means the employee recognises when over-stressed, fatigue, burnout, continual shoulder/hip/neck pain need to be faced. Whilst employer resources need to be made available in order to demonstrate that it's ok for their employees to communicate their energy levels are short and anxiety is high. These first steps have been taken by many businesses to make this happen but it falls short when it comes to employee implementation and making preparations for the healing phase. A wellbeing trainer tends to the symptoms and encourages the discovery of the root cause providing the employee is prepared to do their part as the employer has done theirs.
For more on self-management training that gets to the heart of the matter contact
