Set up your wellbeing well

Health and safety organisation Site Safe says a solid foundation for wellbeing will set your business up for success 

Creating a healthy workplace starts with a solid foundation for wellbeing – the overall physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social health of people.

Mental wellbeing is feeling good, functioning well, and feeling connected. Looking after wellbeing has benefits for employees and business and can lead to both individual and business success.

Looking inwards

Looking after your own wellbeing can help you increase your confidence, improve relationships with others, reduce physical health problems, and cope better with stress and change. This could look like:

• Getting active for at least 30 minutes a day – hit the gym, take the dog for a walk, play with your family at the park, spend time in the garden, or even practice yoga.
• Eating healthy, balanced, and regular meals and staying hydrated.
• Sharing your time and knowledge – volunteer in your community, offer a helping hand, or do something nice for a friend or stranger.
• Always learning – embrace new experiences, remain curious, and work towards your goals.
• Connecting with others – talking to people you trust and being open to listening to others.
• Taking notice of the things that bring you joy – reading a good book, watching your favourite TV series, or spending quality time with family and friends.

Looking outwards

When someone is struggling with their mental health and wellbeing, it can be hard for them to speak up and ask for help. Signs and symptoms of someone struggling with their mental health and wellbeing may include:

• Low productivity.
• Inability to concentrate.
• Explained or unexplained absence from work.
• Changes in behaviour and mood.
• Avoiding social activities.
• Increased use of alcohol and/or drugs.
• Fatigue, stress, and/or anxiety. 

If you notice someone showing any of these signs or symptoms, make sure they know you are there to listen openly and without judgement whenever they want to talk.

Wellbeing at work

Prioritising wellbeing in the workplace can result in a number of benefits for workers and business owners, such as a more positive work culture, happier and more engaged staff, increased productivity, higher staff retention, and better health and safety outcomes. For businesses and employers, this could include:

• Being a good role model for healthy behaviour and ensuring others feel comfortable speaking up and asking for help when they need it.
• Being proactive, open, honest, and free of judgement.
• Ensuring they meet the legal responsibilities to protect health and prevent harm at work, as per the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
• Emphasise the importance of work-life balance and how to manage work-related stress.
• Investing time and money – spend time ensuring staff feel valued and invest in activities and services that can benefit the mental health and wellbeing of workers.

Resource and training

Leading health and safety organisation Site Safe New Zealand is on a journey to work with the construction industry to shift the approach to wellbeing in the workplace and set people up
for success with the tools and resources they need to support.

Since the release of a 2019 research report conducted by Site Safe into suicide in New Zealand’s construction industry, there has been acknowledgement from industry that mentally healthy and well workplaces have benefits for both health and safety and business success. 

“We know how important it is to destigmatise the idea of looking after ourselves, especially in our industries who have typically had more of a ‘toughen up’ attitude when it comes to our wellbeing,” said Brett Murray, Site Safe New Zealand Chief Executive.

“We already work with key partners like MATES in Construction and Hato Hone St John to provide resources and training courses focusing on mental health in the construction industry, but we knew there was more we could do to support our industry and members, and in particular small organisations, who often don’t have the financial resources to invest in this area.”

Partnership helps site safe provide more

This year, Site Safe has partnered with Ignite Aotearoa to give Site Safe members free access to their online platform and a large range of mental health and wellbeing resources, information, and workshops.

Ignite Aotearoa is a social wellbeing enterprise backed by Emerge Aotearoa – one of New Zealand’s largest independent mental health and social service organisations. Ignite Aotearoa’s mental health and wellbeing offerings are evidence-based, easy to access, flexible and affordable, with a focus on partnering with workplaces to enhance employee wellbeing.

Site Safe is also investing in the wellbeing of the industry by sponsoring a number of one-on-one support sessions, so members can try out one of the services offered by the platform. Ignite Aotearoa hosts over 100 different providers, including financial advisors, human resource consultants, occupational therapists, dietitians, social workers, counsellors, psychologists, and more.

“Both our organisations have strongly aligned values,” said Murray. “Like us, Ignite Aotearoa believes New Zealanders should be able to access mental health and wellbeing support that suits them whenever they need it.”

To learn more about the Site Safe and Ignite Aotearoa partnership, visit https://www.sitesafe.org.nz/news–events/news/new-member-benefit-ignite-aotearoa/ . 

 

Site Safe is a not-for-profit, membership-based organisation that supports a culture of health and safety in New Zealand construction.
For more information go to: www.sitesafe.org.nz