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 on our recent webinar "Helping you help your team: Reducing the emotional load for managers", to help 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 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 require help. This reduces a manager's 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. 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. This has highly positive effects for an organisation, who typically benefit from improvements in employee wellbeing and productivity".
Liz recently joined HealthHero’s Head of Clinical Quality, Emma Bradshaw, and Strategic Account Manager, Debbie Cullen, for a webinar that explored the role managers play in employees' mental health. Designed to give managers confidence and assurance in supporting their colleagues in the workplace, the webinar provided insights on:
If you're an HR professional, manager, or passionate about workplace wellness, this webinar is for you. You can view it here.