11 Free Employee Wellbeing Resources
Employee wellbeing resources help to ensure that employees are mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy.
This not only contributes to their personal success, but also to the overall success of the company.
However, finding the right resources to support employee wellbeing can be challenging, especially when budget constraints are a factor.
We’ve put together 15 free resources that you can use to help support the health and wellbeing of your employees.
Contents
11 Free Employee Wellbeing Resources
How Can These Resources Improve Employee Wellbeing?
11 Free Employee Wellbeing Resources
These Free resources can be used to help support the health and wellbeing of employees.
Although free resources are great, companies who truly want to support the health and wellbeing of their employees will consider investing in beneficial employee wellbeing services.
1. The Managers Guide to Mental Health at Work
This comprehensive guide, developed jointly by Mind and the CIPD, is designed to help managers better support their employees’ mental health at work.
It covers all aspects of employment, from recruitment and managing mental health at work, to supporting return to work after a period of absence.
The guide provides practical advice, conversation checklists, and steps that employers can take to create a mentally healthy workplace.
It’s designed to be adaptable to different workplace environments and relationships, and can be used both as a handy outline for individual managers and incorporated into HR policies and practices to be integrated across teams and organisations.
This resource is a valuable tool for anyone involved in managing people, from line managers in large organisations, to owner-managers of small firms, as well as HR and occupational health teams.
2. Advancing the Mental Health at Work Agenda
This resource is a guide for senior leaders in the intellectual property profession, produced in collaboration with Jonathan’s Voice, an organisation dedicated to reducing the stigma associated with mental health.
The guide aims to help leaders ensure that their workplaces are mentally healthy.
It emphasizes the importance of leaders looking after their own wellbeing and provides a 3-tier model for creating a mentally healthy workplace.
The guide also offers advice on how to have conversations about mental health and what measures to put in place to support mental health in the workplace.
This resource is particularly useful for senior leaders and HR professionals looking to create a supportive and understanding environment for their employees.
3. Holistic Approaches to Employee Wellbeing
This blog post from Loving Life provides a comprehensive look at holistic approaches to employee wellbeing.
It covers a range of strategies that not only benefit the employees but also the companies they work for.
The blog post includes ten holistic approaches to employee wellbeing, such as on-site chair massages, on-site yoga, wellbeing workshops, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), healthy eating and more.
Each approach is explained in detail, highlighting its benefits and how it contributes to a comprehensive wellness framework.
This resource is particularly beneficial for HR professionals, managers, or employees who are keen on understanding and advocating for holistic wellbeing.
4. Mental Health Support Phoneline
The Samaritans offer a free, confidential, 24/7 support service for those in need.
Their mental health support phoneline is available to anyone who is struggling to cope, dealing with a crisis, or feeling distressed.
The Samaritans provide a safe space to talk about what you’re going through, offering non-judgmental support and understanding.
They also offer a variety of other resources, including advice for those worried about someone else, and guidance on how to navigate difficult times.
This resource is invaluable for anyone in need of immediate emotional support or guidance.
5. Employee Debt Support
PayPlan, in collaboration with NatWest, offers free debt advice and support.
They work closely with many of the UK’s major banks to provide impartial, free debt advice.
Their services are designed to help individuals manage their debts effectively and work towards becoming debt-free.
PayPlan offers a range of solutions tailored to individual circumstances, including debt management plans, individual voluntary arrangements, and bankruptcy advice.
This resource is particularly beneficial for employees who are struggling with debt and need professional guidance to navigate their financial situation.
6. Low Mood Audio Guides
The NHS provides a series of mental wellbeing audio guides designed to help boost your mood and navigate feelings such as anxiety or low mood.
These guides are available to listen to privately, in your own time.
The series includes guides on self-help for low mood and depression, coping with anxiety, sleep problems, building confidence, and addressing unhelpful thinking.
Each guide is narrated by a doctor and provides practical advice and techniques to manage and improve mental wellbeing.
This resource is particularly useful for employees who prefer audio content and are looking for accessible, expert advice to improve their mental health.
7. Online Mental Health Support Groups
Online Peer Support offers a safe and supportive online community for people living with mental illness and those who support them.
The platform provides text-based chat channels covering a wide range of topics, a general forum for posting questions and getting community feedback, and a drop-in community for voice and video chat.
All these features are hosted online through an easy-to-use private Discord server, available to access 24/7 anywhere in the world.
The community is more than just a support group, it’s a welcoming social community where members can meet new friends and connect around shared interests other than mental illness.
This resource is particularly beneficial for employees seeking a supportive community and peer interaction.
8. Online Yoga for Physical and Mental Wellbeing
Do Yoga With Me offers an extensive library of online yoga classes, meditations, and movement classes.
The platform provides a variety of yoga styles, including Vinyasa, Power, Hatha, and Yin, among others.
The classes range from beginner to advanced levels, and there are also specific programs and challenges for those who want to focus on a particular goal or theme.
The platform is accessible on various devices, including mobile and TV, making it easy for employees to incorporate yoga into their daily routine, regardless of their location.
This resource is particularly beneficial for employees seeking to improve their physical and mental wellbeing through yoga.
9. Online Fitness and Wellness Videos
The Livestrong Woman YouTube channel is a treasure trove of fitness and wellness videos.
It offers a wide range of workouts, from yoga and Pilates to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and strength training.
The channel also features videos on nutrition, mental health, and overall wellbeing.
The workouts are designed to be done at home and cater to various fitness levels, making it a great resource for employees looking to maintain or improve their physical fitness.
The channel also emphasizes the importance of mental wellbeing, offering videos on mindfulness and stress management.
This resource is particularly beneficial for employees who prefer video content and are looking for a comprehensive approach to fitness and wellness.
10. Domestic Abuse Support App: Bright Sky
Bright Sky is a free mobile app that provides support and information for anyone who may be in an abusive relationship or those concerned about someone they know.
The app is also available in multiple languages, including Polish, Punjabi, and Urdu.
It serves as a crucial resource for individuals seeking help in situations of domestic abuse.
The app’s features include a questionnaire to assess the safety of a relationship, a UK-wide directory of specialist domestic abuse support services with contact details, and a secure ‘My Journal’ tool to record incidents of abuse via text, audio, video, or photo form, without any of the content being saved on the device itself.
This resource is particularly beneficial for employees who may be facing domestic abuse or those who are concerned about someone they know.
11. Free Wellbeing Webinars
Loving Life offers free wellbeing webinars every few months to support the wellbeing of employees.
The webinars are designed to be engaging, interactive, informative, and educational.
They cover a variety of topics, including motivation, life-changing habits, best practices for working from home and more.
Each webinar is delivered by health and wellbeing specialist Tyler Lowe, who shares up-to-date research and practical steps to improve physical and mental health.
The webinars are short but packed with bite-sized information, making them easy to fit into a busy schedule.
This resource is particularly beneficial for employees looking to improve their wellbeing but may not have the time or resources to attend in-person workshops or seminars.
How Can These Resources Improve Employee Wellbeing?
Employee wellbeing is a multifaceted concept that encompasses physical, mental, and emotional health.
The resources we’ve discussed can help to enhance each of these aspects, leading to a more balanced and healthier workforce.
Mental health resources, such as guides and support lines, provide invaluable information and immediate assistance.
They offer practical advice on managing mental health in the workplace and create a supportive environment that promotes mental wellbeing.
These resources can help employees navigate through challenging times and provide them with the tools they need to maintain their mental health.
Physical health resources, like online fitness videos and yoga classes, encourage employees to incorporate exercise into their daily routine.
Regular physical activity is not only beneficial for physical health but also for mental wellbeing.
It can help reduce stress, improve mood, and boost overall energy levels.
Financial wellbeing is another crucial aspect of employee wellbeing.
Resources that offer debt advice and support can help employees manage their financial situation more effectively.
Financial stress can significantly impact an individual’s mental health, so providing support in this area can contribute to overall wellbeing.
Lastly, resources that offer holistic approaches to wellbeing ensure that all aspects of an employee’s health are taken into consideration.
These resources recognise that physical, mental, and emotional health are interconnected and contribute to overall wellbeing.
These resources can play a beneficial role in improving employee wellbeing.
They offer support, education, and practical tools that employees can use to manage their health and wellbeing effectively.
At Loving Life, we offer employee wellbeing services to help companies support the health and wellbeing of their employees.
Get in touch for more info.
Author
Tyler Lowe – Health & Wellbeing Speaker
BSc Sport & Exercise Rehabilitation
