It can be difficult as a small-business employer or employee to know where to start in regards to health and wellbeing at work. You often don’t have the same resources and time as the big companies, and you are dealing with a million other things at any given moment.
Fortunately, there are low-cost or free options out there to support both employers and employees.
So, what is available to me as a small employer, or as an employee at a small company, to support health and wellbeing?
BT Wellbeing Toolkit
BT have collated practical advice on how small businesses can help support their own wellbeing in their ‘Wellbeing toolkit for small businesses, which you can access here.
Here you will find information on “the five drivers of wellbeing”, along with links to free or low-cost solutions to common health and wellbeing issues present in the workplace.
Try Before You Bike Scheme
Regular exercise has been proven to improve health and alleviate symptoms of mental health. Cycling is a practical way to increase the amount of exercise you do in a week, without taking too much time out of your day.
Peddle my wheels offer their ‘Try Before You Bike’ scheme, where you can try a brand new or nearly new bike for a small monthly fee. The fee (which includes lights, lock, helmet and mudguards) is fully refundable if you buy the bike. You get a free helmet to keep with every order, with free maintenance call out for your peace of mind and free access to cycle skills sessions.
If you want to buy the bike at a reduced price, you can set up an interest-free payment plan or use the Cycle to Work scheme. More can be found out here.
Podcasts and videos
In the digital age, we have access to a plethora of free and informative content. What can be difficult is knowing where to look for this great content.
Happier with Gretchen Rubin can be found on Spotify or Apple Podcast, and it offers practical advice for developing sustainable and healthier thought processes:
“Gretchen Rubin is HAPPIER, and she wants you to be happier too. The #1 bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before gets more personal than ever as she brings her practical, manageable advice about happiness and good habits to this lively, thought-provoking podcast.”
Source: http://flickr.com/photo/31173559@N07/8119665470 using Flickr upload bot
A great channel on YouTube to watch is Douglas Bloch, who talks about great strategies to deal with mental health issues and tackle difficult thought processes. He discusses important and powerful topics, such as ‘The Power of Purpose’, and ‘Overcoming the pain of depression’.
MIND free resources
Charity MIND have produced a series of free resources to help improve mental wellbeing in the workplace, available to read online or download.
Resources include a ‘Mental health at work commitment guide for employers during coronavirus’, ‘6 mental health core standards’, and ‘guide to wellness action plans’. You can access all of these resources here.
This article is a part of our Happier Healthier Workplaces project. You can read more articles here.