The Workwell Model

Almost two in five (39 per cent) employees say that work has contributed to their poor mental health in the past year.¹

Employers have an impact on employee mental health, the only decision they must make is whether this is positively or negatively.

As an employer, you can support good mental health by signing the Mental Health at Work Commitment.

Together we can transform the nation’s mental health at work.

Supporting materials
Thriving at work The Stevenson / Farmer review of mental health and employers, 2017
Mental health and employers: refreshing the case for investment, Deloitte 2020

UK PLC has made huge strides in raising mental health awareness, but this is not translating into mainstream improvements. ​

We need to tackle the systemic root causes of poor mental health by leaders owning the creation of good work that enhances wellbeing, and improves productivity.

Actions:

• Consciously advocate role model behaviours that promote health and wellbeing.
• Enable an inclusive culture by embedding wellbeing into management accountability and operational policies and tools.
• Publicly report on your wellbeing performance in external communications such as annual reports.

Resources to get your organisation started:

BITC ResourceThe Responsible Business Tracker®
Standard: Mental Health at Work Commitment standards 1 2, 3 and 6

Take a whole-person approach to wellbeing. The four pillars of wellbeing are physical, mental, financial and social health and wellbeing. All of which are inextricably linked.

Actions

• Focus on three areas:

Prevention (primary focus)
Early intervention
Active rehabilitation

• Create environments that enable employees to make informed, healthy choices.
• Encourage employees to take ownership of their own health and wellbeing.

Resources to get your organisation started:

Webinar: BITC An Introduction to Wellbeing – An Introduction to Wellbeing
Toolkits: BITC and Public Health England suite of Toolkits
Standard: Mental Health at Work Commitment standards 3 and 5

Create good work and working conditions that enhance employee wellbeing.

Actions:

• Audit the mental health risks in your workplace, as well as physical ones, and develop a plan for minimising them.
• Increase leadership and management’s understanding of the positive and negative impact work can have on employees and hold them accountable for this.
• Regularly monitor and report on working conditions and always include employee feedback.

Resources to get you started:

Report: Health and Safety Executive stress at work
Risk Assessment: Health and Safety Stress Risk Assessment
Survey Report: CIPD 7 Dimensions of Job Quality
Standard: Mental Health at Work Commitment standard 2

Make employee mental health ‘business as usual’ for all leaders and people managers.

Actions:

• Embed the prioritisation of good mental health as a core competency for people managers.
• Recognise and reward empathy and compassion.
• Ensure comprehensive training reaches all managers and include the impact work can have on employees, and how to prioritise employee health and wellbeing.

Resources to get your organisation started:

Report: BITC Mental Health at Work 2019 – Time to Take Ownership
Webinar: BITC Mental Health at Work 2019 -Time to Take Ownership
Standard: Mental Health at Work Commitment standards 2, 3 and 6

A series of videos were produced for the launch of the BITC Mental Health at Work 2019 – Time to Take Ownership report, featuring employees and managers from Anglian Water, Costain, Bupa, Santander, National Grid, and Lloyds Banking Group.

Take an inclusive and employee-led approach to providing support.

Actions:

• Develop active listening and communication skills and introduce training on tailored workplace adjustments and modifications.
• Training for employees to equip them to better manage their wellbeing.
• Provide and promote access to a diverse range of inclusive health and wellbeing services and facilities such as employee assistance programmes and occupational health.

Resources to get your organisation started:

Toolkit: BITC / Public Health England Health and wellbeing toolkit suite for employers
Publications: Business Disability Forum publications
Standard: Mental Health at Work Commitment standard 5

Employers must adopt a tailored employee-led approach to address workplace culture that recognises the complex needs of different groups.

Actions:

• Promote and implement zero-tolerance policies and guidelines.
• Collect diversity data to inform your health and wellbeing strategy.
• Consider wellbeing through the multiple intersectional lenses required for people to bring their whole self to work.

Resources to get you started:

BITC Focus Area: Age and multigenerational teams
BITC Focus Area: Gender
BITC Focus Area: Race
Standard: Mental Health at Work Commitment standard 3

Look externally for the best support or services and promote wellbeing among stakeholders. This network of external support helps improve both your own organisation and build a movement towards achieving improved health and wellbeing.

Actions:

• Work with other businesses, your supply chain, and partner organisations.
• Use your industry network as a source of information and support.
• Develop strategic partnerships with health and wellbeing charities, forums and professional bodies to keep up with developments.

Resources to get your organisation started

Join Business in the Community: together we can make change happen
Standard: Mental Health at Work Commitment standard 4

Download the reference document:
Dr Fiona Adshead, Independent Wellbeing, Sustainability and Public Health Advisor and member of BITC’s Wellbeing Leadership Team

1. Mental Health at Work 2019: Time To Take Ownership (2019)