ideas for a positive work environment.
According to Government data analysis carried out by Aura Technology, Birmingham, London, Manchester and Liverpool are the areas of the UK where the most people are diagnosed with stress, anxiety or depression.
In addition, research published by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development revealed two-fifths of workers check their emails outside of working hours at least five times a day. One-third can’t mentally switch off at home.
These stats are just the tip of the iceberg. The digital era has created a society where working boundaries have become blurred. Laptops, tablets, smartphones and other technological devices mean we’re always contactable–we can check our emails 
Technology aside, sector-wide budget cuts have led to tighter staffing resources. In some workplaces, employees are taking on increased workloads, working longer hours and are under more pressure to stay on top of everything.
Rich Westman, the founder of Kaido, has created a platform that is aimed at helping organisations to improve the health and wellbeing of their employees, by creating more positive and productive work environments. Here, he shares five ways Birmingham businesses can optimise their employee wellbeing:
1: Introduce healthy snacking
Healthy eating and wellbeing go hand-in-hand and, as we’re fast becoming a nation of snackers, there’s no time like the present to tap into this trend and make sure that mid-morning or afternoon snacks benefit people, beyond giving them a sugar rush.
Encouraging staff to swap sugary snacks for healthy alternatives, such as fresh fruit or nuts, will help them to feel fuller for longer. They will be filled with goodness and less likely to get that ‘afternoon slump’ (usually around 3pm), that’s often caused by a sugar crash. Not forgetting drinks too – provide fresh water, a selection of teas – caffeinated and herbal – and healthy sweeteners, such as honey and unrefined sugar.
2: Encourage screen breaks
We’re all here to work and do well, but not at the expense of our health. With many employees using a computer to carry out most of their work these days, it’s really important they don’t spend all day glued to their screens.
Not only is this incredibly bad for everyone’s eyesight, but screen glare and the constant concentration can lead to issues, such as headaches and migraines, and contribute to burnout in the long-run. Encourage people to get up and leave their desks for five to ten minutes every hour.
3: Communicate with each other
One of the main reasons why employees can quickly feel stressed at work is because they don’t feel supported or listened to by their employers or able to tell them how they feel.
High workloads and poor explanations can easily make staff feel overwhelmed, excluded and unsupported. Two-way communication is essential, so making sure that directions are clear and that employees feel able to approach other team members for clarification, assistance and guidance, especially when stressed, makes all the difference.
4: Rethink your working environment (pets and plants included!)
Take a look at your working space(s) and see if there’s anything you can do to make these areas more positive and inspiring places to work, for example, there may be scope to make a section open plan or you may have the room to create break out zones where employees can move around, take a screen break or enjoy their lunch away from their desk.
Office plants are also proven to help reduce stress, clean the air and help to create a relaxing and calming atmosphere. Having an office pet, a pet friendly environment or a bring your pet to work day, can boost moral, productivity and can be a great ice breaker for employees.
5: Embrace workplace wellbeing – together
Don’t underestimate the value in developing and bringing teams together and continuously investing into them. You can do this by getting everyone involved in activities, such as cycle to work schemes, monthly workplace massages or dedicated wellbeing initiatives, such as The West Midlands Workplace Wellbeing Challenge, which is being run by Kaido, Sport Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce.
Earlier this year, Kaido and Sport Birmingham launched the Birmingham Workplace Wellbeing Challenge, where businesses including KPMG, HSBC and Prescient Business took part. Out of all the employees who were involved, 89.5% noticed an improvement in their health, 66% had positive conversations about health and wellbeing at work and 22% felt less stressed.
The next West Midlands Workplace Wellbeing Challenge, starts in February 2020 and is open to all West Midlands businesses. For more information, visit here.