The Profound Impact of your Wellbeing Decisions.

For anyone paying attention, I missed a month of this newsletter [GULP]. It's been an incredibly busy time for and I apologise for missing one! We are now at 3,000 subscribers for this newsletter, so I have to get better at being consistent!

It's been an incredible few months for me personally, with some of the best moments of my life happening. As many of you know, my work plays a large part in how I identify and more generally my life, so while when it goes bad it really affects me, but when it goes well it gives me a lot of life and fulfilment.

Firstly, last month I was asked to be an Executive Fellow at 英国伦敦大学 - 伦敦国王学院 , King's Business School . An honour I could never have imagined and undoubtedly a milestone in my career and life. This opportunity will (and already is) opening some big doors for me to meet some amazing people and get involved in some serious, high level work.

Secondly, I officially launched the very first Policy Liaison Group for Workplace Wellbeing in Westminster. The Policy Liaison Group on Workplace Wellbeing is a Westminster-based forum convening experts, parliamentarians, government officials and public bodies to help steer the policy agenda on supporting and advancing employee health and wellbeing in the UK. If you would like to be involved, let me know!

Thirdly, I've become the recipient of three fairly big awards; Gold for 'HR Global Thought Leader of the Year' and Silver for 'Human Resources Professional of the Year' at The Stevie's in New York. And just this week, I was awarded 'Outstanding Achievements in the Industry' at PwC The Rewards.

I'm incredibly grateful to all of you who support what I do. I never take it for granted, I always want to pay it back if I can. No comment, well wishes or positive feedback ever goes unnoticed.

Now I'm someone (probably just like you) who often feels like I'm actually not capable of what I do. That someone will one day "find me out" or I will realise that I don't know what I'm talking about. But this last few months appears to have knocked that out of me. I mean, that's a pretty hefty journey to go through just to get some high self confidence, but here we are! lol.

As someone who gets a lot of purpose at work, I wanted to remind anyone in HR or wellbeing just how important your role is too. How much the impact of your decisions spreads and the profound impact of your decisions. I truly believe the workplace has more power to drive positive change in society than the government has at this stage - regardless of what country you live in.

Employers are becoming agents of social change

1.???? 80% of CEO’s now feel pressured by employees, customers and boards to improve people’s wellbeing. Employers have far greater investment power than the state. Better wellbeing experiences at work is an act of self-interest for companies. So we have a mandate from our leaders to drive this forwards (finally).

2.???? 85% of 300 global CEOs say creating positive outcomes for society is an “urgent” concern. Leaders recognise the role they now play in a better society.

3.???? People trust their employer more than they trust the government and the NHS. Employers are in a very unique and powerful position to grab this baton and run with it.

The work you all do in HR and Wellbeing is going to pivotal to our country in the next decade. The decisions you make, the processes you put in place and the initiatives you instigate all matter. The route to great workplace wellbeing isn't going to be found in the big or expensive decisions you make, they will be in the small, incremental day to day choices you make.

You will change the world

When you write policies…

1.???? People who are bullied at work are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. The policies you write to protect people are incredibly significant.

2.???? Half of those employees who are allowed to work flexibly say it improved their mental health. Flexible working is one of the most well-evidenced things you can do for the wellbeing of your people.

3.???? You are twice as likely to develop poor mental health if you work a zero-hour contract. Your money worries, stress and anxiety are all higher than others too. The way we manage shift patterns is important to wellbeing.

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When you design working practices

1.???? Paying a living wage improves wellbeing and even decreases depressive symptoms.

2.???? Access to paid sick leave is linked with lower mortality rates.

3.???? Paid sick leave reduces the spread of flu by 11% within a year.

4.???? Unappreciated employees are “twice as likely” to experience poor mental health. Recognition again a perhaps surprising but well-evidenced way to protect people's wellbeing at work.

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When you offer benefits…

1.???? Cycle to work schemes are associated with employees being less likely to be prescribed drugs for mental health

2.???? Health screening saves 100,000 lives a year

3.???? Income Protection policies lead to more people taking talking therapies

4.???? Health insurance is a “significant determiner” of happiness

5.???? Dental Insurance drives down instances of cardiac arrest.

6.???? Women without health insurance are more likely to receive a breast cancer diagnosis

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When you lead your organisation…

Controlling for tenure, salary, team win percentage etc, NBA coaches’ leadership is so impactful , that it influences both the trajectory of psychological aggression and task performance over a players entire career. The players with the most aggressive coaches say the negative impacts of this run throughout their entire lives. As leaders and managers you have a significant impact on the wellbeing of your people. The way you treat them will stay with them for life.

What you do matters. You matter. You shouldn't have to win awards and fellowships to feel like you're making an impact. HR and Wellbeing roles are incredibly purposeful ones; dont be like me. Make sure you give yourself the recognition you need and not rely on external ones.

Awards, likes and followers are great, but they dont make influential people on their own. You have to care, you have to be doing great (and hard) work. It doesn't come easy and it doesn't always come to those who deserve it. But if you are trying to get somewhere (whether that be an award, notoriety, or a following) just start with being passionate and being caring; the rest will follow. No one ever won an award for setting out to win an award. And if I can help you, let me know.

In an effort to attempt to pay the HR community back for all of the good fortune I've had recently, if I can help you with something please ask. If I can, I will find the time to give you my thoughts on your proposition, review a slide deck, introduce you to someone... just ask!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I am nothing without the support of you.