INDUSTRY INSIGHT
Why your wellbeing strategy isn’ t working and what to do about it
Wellness in the workplace can be treated as an afterthought or it is spoken about in theory but not put into practice. Lyn Hatch, Head of Student Experience at Health Coaches Academy, outlines the challenges facing businesses with regards to wellbeing and the support available.
We’ ve reached a point where most organisations say the right things about health and wellbeing. Leaders talk about support, care and flexibility. Policies are in place. Benefits are listed on the intranet. And yet, wellbeing in most workplaces still doesn’ t work.
In the UK, there are now nearly 800,000 more working-age adults economically inactive due to long-term health conditions than in 2019. That’ s a 40 % increase. Meanwhile, the cost of hidden sickness has risen to over £ 100 billion a year, driven by presenteeism, burnout and stressrelated absence. Employees are unwell, but still working, until they can’ t.
The pandemic has only accelerated these trends, with hybrid working creating new challenges around boundaries, isolation and digital fatigue. Mental health claims have surged, with anxiety
Lyn Hatch, Head of Student Experience, Health Coaches Academy
www. intelligentcxo. com
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