Initiatives to support employee wellbeing are no longer seen as a 'nice to have' but as an essential differentiator. Here David Hicks, a director at Deloitte in the North East, talks about the importance of employee mental health and wellbeing schemes.
As many as 88 per cent of business and HR leaders in the UK are working towards improving employee wellbeing, such as by offering wellness and work-life balance programmes in the workplace, compared with a global average of 82 per cent. The findings come from the 2018 Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends survey, which tracks the top trends shaping the agenda for organisations.
UK organisations are more likely to offer employees mental health support than their global counterparts. 36 per cent of businesses in the UK currently have mental health counselling programmes in place, against a global average of 21 per cent.
This follows Deloitte analysis for the StevensonFarmer independent review which found that poor mental health costs the UK economy between £74 billion and £99 billion a year, with workplace interventions showing a return to business of between £1.50 and £9 for every £1 invested.
I think it is positive to see that many UK businesses are taking steps to champion mental health in the workplace, but it’s clear that more still needs to be done. Offering mental health support to employees not only helps British workers to thrive but also makes good business sense and supports the wider economy.
At Deloitte we are committed to offering an environment which supports both the mental and physical wellbeing of our people. On World Mental Health Day 2017 we set ourselves the target of training 1 in 4 of our partners and directors to become Mental Health First Aid Accredited Leaders. Mental Health First Aid England have trained over 580 of our partners and directors and I am one of those who has recently undertaken the training.
Just five per cent of organisations have ‘extensive’ wellbeing programmes
While many are now prioritising wellbeing in the workplace, the UK may still have some way to go before even the most basic initiatives are truly embedded across all organisations. Three in five (59 per cent) UK organisations report having limited or basic wellbeing programmes, typically focused on traditional interventions such as adjusted working patterns and additional exceptional leave. Just 5 per cent of organisations in the UK claim to offer ‘extensive’ wellbeing programmes, which are actively tracked to measure the impact on workplace productivity and efficiency.
Three in five UK organisations offer flexible working
Flexible working is currently the most well established programme helping employees with their work-life balance. While 59 per cent of UK organisations offer flexible working, 92 per cent of those rate it as having a valuable impact. Meanwhile, half (50 per cent) of UK organisations have an employee assistance programme, offering employees support with personal or work related problems, up from a global average of 30 per cent.
I’m proud that Deloitte is committed to developing its own working practices through a combination of formal and informal arrangements, that support agility in terms of where, when and how we work. Our WorkAgility framework at Deloitte provides a platform for our people to consider a blend of day to day actions and formal options, which help them to manage the balance between demanding personal and professional priorities.
I’m pleased that organisations in the UK are increasingly recognising the importance of investing in employee wellbeing. However, many are still questioning where to start. Bridging the gap between awareness and action requires businesses to make wellbeing a priority at the most senior management levels. After this, an adequate review of organisational needs, understanding what is best practice and targeting interventions to the needs of those in the organisation will be key drivers of success.
