Workplace Wellbeing: Beyond the Fruit Bowl

Ever noticed how workplace wellbeing often gets reduced to fruit bowls and yoga classes that hardly anyone attends? Health coach Amanda Robinson challenges this superficial approach in a thought-provoking exploration of why wellbeing at work matters more than ever.

The numbers tell a compelling story: over 2.8 million UK workers are currently on long-term sick leave, with stress and anxiety costing businesses billions annually. Yet when organisations get wellbeing right, the return is substantial – up to £5 for every £1 invested. Amanda makes a powerful case that wellbeing isn't just HR's responsibility but everyone's business, from CEOs to team members.

Drawing from her experience working with organisations like a financial services company in Preston, Amanda demonstrates how wellbeing becomes transformative when integrated into company culture rather than treated as a separate initiative. She emphasises that meaningful change doesn't require complicated programmes, but rather consistent small steps: walking meetings, proper lunch breaks, and creating environments where people feel safe to express struggles without fear of judgment.

The episode concludes with a practical challenge: identify one small wellbeing step you can take this week, whether for yourself or to support colleagues. When wellbeing becomes woven into the fabric of an organisation, workplaces transform – and so do lives. Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn or visit healthsteps.co.uk for more resources on building a thriving workplace culture. Next episode will delve into stress, burnout and their impact on the bottom line.

http://www.healthsteps.co.uk

Transcript

Episode Introduction

Speaker 1 0:04

Welcome to Health Coaching Today with Health Steps, where we take small steps towards a healthier life. I'm Amanda, your health coach and guide on this journey. Together, we'll explore practical tips, expert insights and real-life stories to help you thrive both personally and professionally. Let's get started on your next step to a healthier you. Welcome back to Health Coaching Today with Health Steps. I'm Amanda Robinson, your health coach and guide.

The Problem with Quick Fixes

Speaker 1 0:36

Now let's be honest. When most people hear the phrase workplace well-being, they still think about fruit bowls, yoga at lunch or maybe an employee assistance program that's buried somewhere in the staff handbook. But here's the truth well-being at work is not a perk, it's not a nice to have, it's absolutely everyone's business, and it can make or break a company's performance. Today I want to share why well-being at work matters more than ever, what it really looks like in practice, and how small steps can lead to big changes for both employees and businesses. So let's have a think about the big picture. Right now in the UK, over 2.8 million people of working age are on long-term sick leave. Stress, anxiety and poor health are costing businesses billions of pounds every single year, not just in absenteeism, but think about lost productivity, presenteeism and turnover. Here's the thing. When businesses get well-being right, the return is huge. Studies show that for every one pound invested in employee well-being, businesses can see a return of up to five pound through reduced absence, improved performance and retention. So, whether you're a CEO, a manager or part of a team, well-being impacts you directly and it's your responsibility. It's not just about HR policies. It's about culture, performance and the future of our work and the future of workplaces.

Small Steps Challenge

Speaker 1 2:22

Too often, well-being is seen as a tick box exercise, and that drives me mad. Tick box exercise and that drives me mad. Yoga classes that only five people attend. Mindfulness apps that get downloaded once, never to be used again. Free fruit that no one bothers with after a Monday. And this is the problem. Also, well-being isn't about quick fixes, but we live in a world where we expect quick fixes. Well-being is actually about creating an environment where people can thrive day in, day out, and to do that, you have to be able to reduce unnecessary stresses, you have to support healthy habits and you have to create a culture where people feel safe Safe to say things like I'm struggling, but when they say that, it has to be without fear of judgment. I've seen first hand in businesses. I work with One financial services company in Preston has made wellbeing a core part of their monthly calendar. From chair yoga to stress management, anxiety, women's health and nutrition and the feedback we get from staff is brilliant.

Speaker 1 3:45

Here's the key thing wellbeing doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes it's as simple as encouraging people to step away from the desk, take a walk, take a breather, switch off properly after work. These are small steps, but these small steps that are repeated consistently create lasting change, and that's what we need lasting change. Wellbeing at work isn't just for HR or for leadership teams. It's for all of us. Leaders do have to model it, yes, and teams have to normalise it. Individuals need to take ownership of it to ensure that they rock up at work as their best selves.

Episode Closing and Next Steps

Speaker 1 4:32

And when well-being becomes part of the fabric of a business rather than a separate initiative or a poster on the wall, workplaces transform, and when workplaces transform, so do lives. It has a ripple effect. So here's my challenge to you this week Whether you're running a team or you're part of one, ask yourself what is one small step that I can take to support my well-being, or generally well-being, at work. Maybe it's suggesting a walking meeting, being at work. Maybe it's suggesting a walking meeting. Maybe it's giving yourself permission to take a proper lunch break and to eat mindfully. Maybe it's checking in on a colleague who seems a little bit under pressure or just doesn't quite seem themselves. Maybe it's that person who you constantly see that appears to be blowing the top all the time or stressing or shouting or not being particularly nice to people. Maybe you bite the bullet and reach out to that person. Let them know about it, but let them know about it by asking them how are you? Things seem a little tense recently because when you take care of well-being, you're not just supporting yourself, but you're supporting people around you and the future of success of your workplace. It's something I could talk about for a long time, but I'm gonna wrap this up at this point.

Speaker 1 6:02

So thank you for tuning into health coaching today with health steps. If you find this useful, please do follow us, and we would love a rating. If you'd like to, please just share it with someone at work, your boss, your colleague or a friend, somebody who you think might be interested in this, and don't forget, feel free to connect with me. I'm Amanda Robinson on LinkedIn, and our website is healthstepscouk, where you'll find more information on workplace well-being. I'll see you in the next episode, where we're going to be diving into stress, burnout and the bottom line, but until then, take care and take one small step today.

Speaker 1 6:46

Thank you for tuning in to Health Coaching Today with Health Steps. For more tips and resources, visit our website at wwwhealthstepscouk. Don't forget to subscribe so that you never miss an episode, and if you enjoyed our show, please leave us a review and share it. Remember I'm a health coach, not a medical professional. Always consult your doctor for any medical advice. Always consult your doctor for any medical advice. This is amanda, your health coach, reminding you to take small steps every day towards a healthier version of you. Until next time, keep taking small steps and keep moving forward.