• Current students
      • Student centre
        Enrol on a course/exam
        My enrolments
        Exam results
        Mock exams
        Learning Hub data privacy policy
      • Course information
        Students FAQs
        Student induction
        Course enrolment information
        Key dates
        Book distribution
        Timetables
        FAE elective information
      • Exams
        Exam Info: CAP1
        E-assessment information
        Exam info: CAP2
        Exam info: FAE
        Access support/reasonable accommodation
        Extenuating circumstances
        Timetables for exams & interim assessments
        Interim assessments past papers & E-Assessment mock solutions
        Committee reports & sample papers
        Information and appeals scheme
        JIEB: NI Insolvency Qualification
      • CA Diary resources
        Mentors: Getting started on the CA Diary
        CA Diary for Flexible Route FAQs
      • Admission to membership
        Joining as a reciprocal member
        Conferring dates
        Admissions FAQs
      • Support & services
        Recruitment to and transferring of training contracts
        CASSI
        Student supports and wellbeing
        Audit qualification
        Diversity and Inclusion Committee
    • Students

      View all the services available for students of the Institute

      Read More
  • Becoming a student
      • About Chartered Accountancy
        The Chartered difference
        What do Chartered Accountants do?
        5 Reasons to become a Chartered Accountant
        Student benefits
        School Bootcamp
        Third Level Hub
        Study in Northern Ireland
        Events
        Blogs
        Member testimonials 2022
        Become a Chartered Accountant podcast series
      • Entry routes
        College
        Working
        Accounting Technicians
        School leavers
        Member of another body
        International student
        Flexible Route
        Training Contract
      • Course description
        CAP1
        CAP2
        FAE
        Our education offering
      • Apply
        How to apply
        Exemptions guide
        Fees & payment options
        External students
      • Training vacancies
        Training vacancies search
        Training firms list
        Large training firms
        Milkround
        Recruitment to and transferring of training contract
        Interview preparation and advice
        The rewards on qualification
        Tailoring your CV for each application
        Securing a trainee Chartered Accountant role
      • Support & services
        Becoming a student FAQs
        Who to contact for employers
        Register for a school visit
    • Becoming a
      student

      Study with us

      Read More
  • Members
      • Members Hub
        My account
        Member subscriptions
        Annual returns
        Application forms
        CPD/events
        Member services A-Z
        District societies
        Professional Standards
        Young Professionals
        Careers development
        Diversity and Inclusion Committee
      • Members in practice
        Going into practice
        Managing your practice FAQs
        Practice compliance FAQs
        Toolkits and resources
        Audit FAQs
        Other client services
        Practice Consulting services
        What's new
      • In business
        Networking and special interest groups
        Articles
      • Overseas members
        Home
        Key supports
        Tax for returning Irish members
        Networks and people
      • Public sector
        Public sector news
        Public sector presentations
      • Support & services
        Letters of good standing form
        Member FAQs
        AML confidential disclosure form
        Institute Technical content
        TaxSource Total
        The Educational Requirements for the Audit Qualification
        Pocket diaries
        Thrive Hub
      • Member benefits
        Member benefits
    • Members

      View member services

      Read More
  • Employers
      • Training organisations
        Authorise to train
        Training in business
        Manage my students
        Incentive Scheme
        Recruitment to and transferring of training contracts
        Securing and retaining the best talent
        Tips on writing a job specification
      • Training
        In-house training
        Training tickets
      • Recruitment services
        Hire a qualified Chartered Accountant
        Hire a trainee student
      • Non executive directors recruitment service
      • Support & services
        Hire members: log a job vacancy
        Firm/employers FAQs
        Training ticket FAQs
        Authorisations
        Hire a room
        Who to contact for employers
    • Employers

      Services to support your business

      Read More
☰
  • The Institute
☰
  • Home
  • Articles
  • Students
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Archive
  • Podcasts
  • Contact us
Search
View Cart 0 Item
  • Home/
  • Accountancy Ireland/
  • Home/
  • AI articles

Supporting employees’ well-being

Jan 14, 2022

Employees’ well-being should be at the top of every company’s agenda all year, not just on Blue Monday. Dawn Leane gives five easy tips for leaders to best support the people in your organisation.

In addition to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, we are currently experiencing dark mornings and nights, insufficient funds, Dry January, and busy work periods, resulting in stress levels being at an all-time high. The Health & Safety Authority are advising that “there is a mental health fallout from COVID-19. While the virus is a public health issue, it affects individuals’ wellbeing, sense of security and stability, performance, and resilience. This will also affect their work, how they perform at work and the attention they can afford to give to work.”

If ever there was a time for employers to go the extra mile to support employee well-being, it’s now.

Here are five deceptively simple ways to support employees.

  1. Encourage regular breaks

    It is important to get outside for at least 20 minutes a day, preferably in the morning. Daylight and fresh air promote vitamin D production and better sleep. While remote working should increase flexibility, it can lead to poor work practices, such as employees feeling they must always be available because they have lost sight of the boundary between work and home. As with all wellbeing initiatives, employers can have the greatest impact by actively setting an example, rather than just giving tacit permission.

  2. Bring people together

    Research shows that 80% of 18 to 34 year olds keep low or anxious feelings to themselves. Social interaction brings significant benefits, both mental and physical, providing an outlet for such feelings. Employers can create opportunities for greater connectivity by celebrating life events, hosting coffee mornings or virtual lunchtime quizzes, issuing newsletters or activating employee recognition schemes. These activities will help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, while encouraging positive relationships among colleagues. This is particularly important for new hires who may not have the usual opportunities to integrate.

  3. Promote employee assistance programmes

    Most organisations provide structured employee assistance programmes. However, employees may not always be aware of their existence or of the extent of benefits available. A wide-range of resources are usually offered, from counselling to financial education, parenting advice and health checks – and are often available not just to the employee, but to their household as well. January is the ideal time to review such programmes, asking what else would be valuable. It is also important to ensure that programmes are accessible to all and hybrid-work friendly.

    A reminder of the help available and offering regular check-ins can support employees at a challenging and stressful time.

  4. Practice kindness

    It may be clichéd, but kindness is important in the workplace. That doesn’t mean that you can’t have honest conversations or address issues, but we rarely know what insecurities, challenges or worries lie beneath somebody’s breezy and cheerful demeanour. In this context, being kind means assuming positive intent, unless proven otherwise. Kindness benefits both parties as it can strengthen relationships and increase our sense of satisfaction with life.

  5. Offer appropriate challenges

    It doesn’t need to be scaling Kilimanjaro to have impact. Providing opportunities for training and development, kicking off a project, speaking at an event, problem-solving or establishing good work habits are all mentally stimulating and can increase levels of self-motivation. Challenging work can keep employees engaged and interested in their role. The key word here is ‘appropriate’. Most new year resolutions fail because people try to tackle too much and it becomes overwhelming.

It’s always important to support employees’ mental health, but it’s particularly important in January. Apart from being the right thing to do, having a healthy, happy and motivated workforce makes good business sense.

Dawn Leane is founder and CEO of Leane Empower.

The latest news to your inbox

Useful links

  • Current students
  • Becoming a student
  • Knowledge centre
  • Shop
  • District societies

Get in touch

Dublin HQ

Chartered Accountants
House, 47-49 Pearse St,
Dublin 2, Ireland

TEL: +353 1 637 7200
Belfast HQ

The Linenhall
32-38 Linenhall Street, Belfast
Antrim BT2 8BG, United Kingdom.

TEL: +44 28 9043 5840

Connect with us

CAW Footer Logo-min
GAA Footer Logo-min
CARB Footer Logo-min
CCAB-I Footer Logo-min

© Copyright Chartered Accountants Ireland 2020. All Rights Reserved.

☰
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy statement
  • Event privacy notice
LOADING...

Please wait while the page loads.