When in retail, Wellbeing was never mentioned, every course/ self development that was offered was around progressing up the ladder:
- What if we didn’t want to climb the ladder?
- Why wasn’t Wellbeing seen as Personal Development?
The staff turnaround was always an issue at the organisation, to me this was because they invested in their people in the wrong way – work life balance would have really supported us, looking back it was always frowned upon for doing “just” your contracted hours.
Wellbeing in the workplace has really moved forward over the years, I know as I get asked to deliver many workshops and talks throughout the year. However the feedback that I get the most is that awareness days are all well and good but actually working practice needs to be changed. Over the years so many women I have worked with in counselling have not returned to work after maternity leave as they feared their employees’ response to flexible working. In my opinion, workplace were loosing some amazing talent by not supporting them. From a business point of view the cost of redeployment must cost £1000s for some companies who don’t invest in the women that work for them.
Another topical issue that keeps coming up for me when delivering workshops and through my counselling is women going through the menopause. As women are working longer many are still working full time hours when menopause starts and this transition in life can be a very difficult time both emotionally and physically. A woman needs to feel understood and supported throughout this time in their life, yet many employees don’t know where to start with this support.