Corporate support for wellbeing
Businesses have an important role to play in improving the physical and mental health of their employees. See below for links that can help companies support the wellbeing of their workforce.
General
- National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Guidance on how to improve the health and wellbeing of employees, with a focus on organisational culture and the role of line manager
- Mental Wellbeing at Work
- UK Government workplace health collection Resources for employers, local government and commissioners on workplace health
Equality and discrimination
- UK Government- Equality Act information and guidance on the Equality Act 2010, including age discrimination and public sector Equality Duty
- ACAS - Equality and Discrimination - creating fair workplaces
- Age UK - age friendly London Campaign
Bullying and harassment
Flexible working and family-friendly policies
- UK Government - types of flexible working and how to apply
- Working Families - guides, toolkits and policies for employers and line managers
- Maternity Action - free advice on rights at work, maternity pay and benefits
- ACAS - Flexible working - guides, policies and templates
Whistleblowing
- Protect - Speak Up, Stop Harm
Living wage
Shift workers and sleep
- Business in the Community (BITC) - sleep and recovery toolkit
Bereavement
- ACAS - Time off work for bereavement - a good practice guide to managing bereavement in the workplace
Volunteering
- Team London - a volunteering programme by the Mayor of London
- I Volunteer - encourages people who live, work and study in Enfield to get involved in the local community
HIV
- London HIV Prevention Programme - a initiative aiming to increase HIV testing and promote prevention choices to Londoners
Menopause
- Faculty of Occupational Medicine - advice on the menopause
Pregnancy at work
Looking after pregnant employees - advice and guidance for looking after the wellbeing of pregnant employees
Breastfeeding-friendly workplaces
Sugar Smart workplaces
Could your workplace be more Sugar Smart?
Join the Sugar Smart campaign by pledging to take 3 small actions that make a big difference, such as:
Staff canteen
- Install water points and promote drinking water as the number one drink
- Drinks with more than 5g sugar per 100ml represent less than 50% of the soft drinks range
- Stop selling drinks high in sugar and promote water and no-added sugar drinks instead
- Pre-packed ready-to-eat confectionary, sugary snacks and dessert items (such as cakes) intended for individual consumption are no more than 250kcal or 27g sugar per packet and provide smaller sizes if available
- Ban price promotions on sugary drinks and snacks such as discounts, multi-buys, free items or meal deals
- Ensure there are no sugary drinks and snacks for sale at checkout areas to discourage impulse buying
- Introduce a Traffic light system on drinks menus/shelves
- Remove ads and make it policy not to advertise or promote any food and drink high in sugar
- Get accredited by an external organisation to ensure the food and drink you serve is healthy, (for example Healthier Catering Commitment)
Around the office
- Remove high sugar items from vending machines and ensure a minimum of 40% foods and drinks are healthy options
- Install water points and promote drinking water as the number one drink
- Get your staff trained to deliver cooking courses and promote low or sugar-free recipes
- Set a challenge, such as giving up sugary drinks for a whole week
Resources
- Healthier Vending briefing
- information about the Healthier Catering Commitment Scheme
- Posters for display around your business or near vending machines 500ml sugary drinks poster and Reduce your sugar poster (PDF, 831.65 KB)
- Ministry Of Food training set up this 5-day cookery course covering knife skills though to more complex recipes
Mental health and wellbeing in the workplace
Mental health issues affect one in four people at some point in their lives and have a significant impact on employee wellbeing. This can cause long-term absence from work. The working environment is changing, and employers should take into account the differing effects of working from home and blended working on employees.
General guidance
- An independent review of mental health and employers, Lord Dennis Stevenson and Paul Farmer (Oct 2017)
- Mind - Free resources to support staff mental health
- Rethink - Mental Health in the Workplace Toolkit for employers
- Business in the Community (BITC) toolkits:
Mental Health First Aid England
Tackling stigma and raising awareness
- Mental Health Awareness Week (May)
- World Mental Health Day (October)
- 5 ways to wellbeing
- Mind - Information and support - mental health charity website with wide range of information
- Mental Health Foundation - dedicated to finding and addressing the sources of mental health problems.
- Mates in Mind - raising awareness and improving mental health in the construction industry
- Thrive LDN - a citywide movement for mental health supported by the Mayor of London and the London Health Board
- ONE YOU information on stress
- ‘I had a black dog, his name was depression’ - video clip from the World Health Organisation on the experience of depression
Work-related stress
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE) - Management Standards for Work-related Stress
- ACAS - Dealing with stress in the workplace
- Mental Health Foundation - How to manage and reduce stress
Support
- Mental health helplines
- Education Support Partnership - free helpline for people working in education
- Find your local IAPT and talking therapies service
Supporting employees working from home
- Mental and physical health when working from home - advice on speaking with staff about mental health when working from home
- Tips to encourage positive mental health when working from home - NHS tips
- Mind tips for working from home - helpful tips including eating lunch in a different room to the one you work in, checking in with team members and creating a wellness plan
Encouraging employees to stay active
Office workers in the UK spend a long time in a seated sedimentary position. The NHS guidelines state that people aged 16-64 should undertake 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity, employers can help to encourage daily exercise.
Sources of information and resources to share
- Infographics (PDF) - highlighting the physical activity required to achieve health benefits for different age ranges
- We Are Undefeatable - a Sport England initiative to help people get healthier and feel better with free tips, tools and support.
- NHS Heart age test
Active travel
- Bike Week (June)
- Car-free Day (September)
- Workplace Travel Plan guidance - Sustrans
Local services
- Cycle Enfield Choose active travel and create a better Enfield
- Green spaces and other parks
Healthy eating
Creating an environment where employees can and feel encouraged to eat healthily can create savings in healthcare costs, improve productivity and increase work morale. The links below will help employers to encourage healthy eating in the workplace.
Healthy eating information
- The Eatwell Guide poster (PDF) - showing the UK Government’s healthy eating recommendations
- The Eatwell Guide booklet (PDF) - explains the UK Government’s healthy eating recommendations
- Eat well - an NHS initiative to help people get healthier and feel better with free tips, tools and support.
- Foodswitch - free app to help shoppers make healthier choices
- Free factsheets - from The British Dietetic Association
Making eating well easier at work
- Healthier Catering Commitment - award scheme
- Sugar Smart actions for workplaces - Sustain
- Workplace cake culture - C3health
Weight management support
Policy templates
- Sustain’s model catering guidance (PDF) and Greener food policy (PDF)
- British Heart Foundation’s health at work policy - template includes a section of healthy eating which could be adapted to cover the areas required by the London Healthy Workplace Charter standards