“My advice for any business on Blue Monday would be to double down on employee wellbeing. Here at Novuna’s we have a ‘Me Day’ policy, that allows employees to take time off to focus on their mental and physical well-being. On Blue Monday, a day often linked with low mood and stress, recognising the importance of personal well-being becomes especially crucial. Offering flexibility through bonus day off programmes gives employees the opportunity to take some extra time off when they feel they need it. This approach not only supports individual health but also empowers staff to take the time they need to remain motivated and resilient throughout the year.”
“Implementing an employee-first culture and really living your company values are fundamental to fostering both a productive and content workforce. Adopting this approach not only enhances organisational performance, it also helps in attracting and retaining talent. At its core an employee-first ethos, goes beyond organising social events and ad hoc initiatives, it means prioritising an employee’s work-life balance as you would their professional development or physical health. At Novuna, our colleague engagement surveys show that over 90% of colleagues believe that we actively support efforts to balance work and personal life, and that’s something we have worked hard to achieve.
“Our holistic approach to wellbeing is underpinned by three pillars: mental, physical, and financial health. Each is indispensable, especially when the Office for National Statistics highlights that mental health issues account for 20% of work absences, underscoring the need for organisations to adopt proactive measures in addressing mental as well as physical wellbeing.
This Blue Monday think about the ways you could more greatly support your staff, such as:
Elevate HR as a Strategic Partner
- See your HR teams as a true business partner, that can help drive the business forward through employee engagement and ensuring wellbeing remains a top priority across the company.
Foster an Inclusive and Diverse Workplace
- Invest in equality of opportunity and promote representation through community groups focusing on areas such as gender, ethnicity, LGBTQ+, and disability to create a workplace that welcomes everyone, irrespective of their background, and encourages them to thrive. These groups at Novuna are championed by senior executives, so they don’t become lesser priorities.
Provide Development Pathways
- Offer a range of professional and personal development pathways, focused on specific employee mentoring, coaching and leadership programmes, to ensure that everyone has the scope to fulfil their potential and grow within the company.
Address the Cost of Living
- Don’t just appreciate but actively respond to the impact and concerns that cost of living increases have had on your people. Implement measures to support employees facing financial pressures, especially those in lower salary grades, even simple measures such as signposting colleagues to sites that offer free advice and assistance can make a significant impact.
Promote Flexible Working
- Provide agile and flexible working through a range of options which enable colleagues to stay connected in a hybrid working environment and at the same time meet the needs of the business and its customers. Whether it’s family or care responsibilities, neurodivergence or other factors, flexible working puts the employee in charge of their working day.
Prioritise Mental Health Training
- Train mental health first aiders that are accessible at all levels and encourage leaders to have open, supportive conversations about mental wellbeing.
Leverage External Partnerships
- Look for external partnerships to support your values and maintain accountability and, if you already have partners, take a full review of wellbeing provisions and suppliers to make sure your investment in external support is serving your staff.
- Encourage your colleagues to make a difference in the communities in which they live and work though paid volunteering which provides them with the opportunity to support charities or initiatives they are passionate about.
