With poor mental health accounting for more than half of all work-related illnesses, and sick leave and absence rates hitting an all-time high, it’s clear that the UK's employees need support. Unfortunately, a crucial resource that provides this support, a company’s Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), remains under-utilised. This can result in managers being left to carry the emotional burden of being a one-stop-shop for their team’s health and wellbeing needs, which can quickly become overwhelming.
We spoke to Liz McHard, Training & Wellbeing Manager and panellist at our upcoming webinar "Helping you help your team: Reducing the emotional load for managers" to shine a light on this increasingly topical issue. Here’s what she had to say:
"Amongst a backdrop of lengthy NHS waiting lists and increased workplace absences, dedicated, compassionate and well-meaning managers can end up feeling like ‘failures’ as they struggle to provide the mental health support their team needs. Mental health training for managers can be hugely beneficial in this regard, providing knowledge, skills and confidence in supporting their teams.
"Increased awareness of employee EAP services enables managers to have helpful conversations on wellbeing issues colleagues may be struggling with, and to take ownership of the EAP referral process if staff need help with this. This reduces manager emotional load as their colleagues receive quality care and experience the powerful impact of their manager’s support.
"It’s important to stress that an EAP isn’t just for when you’re struggling, and EAP providers typically have an online portal with a wide range of materials to help you maintain your health, enhance your resilience and keep you in a strong position for future challenges. Of course, this has hugely positive effects for an organisation, who typically benefit from improvements in employee wellbeing and productivity across their organisation".
On Wednesday 30th October, Liz will be joined by HealthHero’s Head of Clinical Quality, Emma Bradshaw, and Strategic Account Manager, Debbie Cullen, for an interactive webinar that explores the role managers play in employees' mental health, to give attendees confidence and assurance in this critical area of management.
Our panel of experts will be on hand to answer questions on manager support in the workplace, providing insights on:
If you are a HR professional, manager, or passionate about workplace wellness, this is the webinar for you – sign up here.