Employee health and wellbeing (EHW) is one of the areas that has evolved the most in my 30-years in HR (or as it is now better known the ‘People Function’).
For the most part it used to be focused on occupational health and employee sickness. Thankfully that has changed in the last decade to being much more holistic and with greater support for managing and supporting mental health at work.
In this current crisis, the role of EHW in helping employees’ physical and mental wellbeing has never been so vital. Fear, uncertainty, lockdowns, social isolation and distancing will be taking their toll on many people. In an online session I joined last week with 3,700 HR directors from companies across the world, EHW rightly came up over and over again as companies’ main priority going forward.
At Bupa, unsurprisingly as a health company we’ve always had a strong focus on EHW. But this unprecedented situation requires an unprecedented response and greater support for our people. Our EHW teams around the world have risen to the challenge so far, and I’m immensely proud of how they’ve supported their colleagues by rapidly adapting and ensuring those working from home have access to help and advice online, staying attuned to the differing needs and circumstances.
The importance of mental health and wellbeing
In Bupa we talk openly about the importance of mental health and wellbeing and have resources available to enable learning, sharing and understanding. During the pandemic, in response to the worry and anxiety many are feeling, we’ve stepped up communication of these to our people. They include 24/7 helplines, access to bereavement counsellors and psychologists, virtual mindfulness sessions, advice on working from home and our wellbeing and resilience programme. We also offer consultations with physiotherapists online as well as helpful advice on nutrition and how to stay active. We’re also offering new services to our customers and making many of our resources available to the public.
I strongly believe all leaders have a responsibility to create safe, healthy and caring workspaces. That means creating an environment where people feel supported to share how they’re feeling and providing easy access to advice and resources that will help them. And throughout this crisis we’ve seen so many examples of people’s capacity for care, compassion and generosity for others in challenging circumstances.
Looking ahead, we can see that people are going to need even more support, especially around mental wellbeing. We’re looking at the multiple challenges for our people both personally and professionally so we can respond to their needs effectively.
There will indisputably be many changes that will stay with us long after coronavirus, an increased focus on the importance of employee health and welfare is likely to be one of them, which can only be a good thing.
Nigel Sullivan
Chief Sustainability and People Officer
