Boost Workplace Wellbeing with Recovery Counselling for Employees on Sick Leave
Workplace absenteeism due to mental health concerns such as anxiety, stress, burnout, depression, and trauma is on the rise. In the UK, the average number of sick days taken by employees has surged by 55% since 2019[1]. For employees who are off work for extended periods, the lack of a tailored recovery plan can lead to avoidable prolonged absence, increased anxiety about returning to work, and diminished productivity upon their return.
Introducing Wellbeing Partners’ Recovery Counselling Service At Wellbeing Partners, we understand the unique challenges that employees face when navigating a period of sick leave. That’s why we’ve designed a cost-effective, professional support service to help employees recover more effectively—both physically and mentally—while preparing them for a smooth return to work.
Our Recovery Counselling service provides employees on sick leave with a set of tailored, 50-minute online sessions with experienced workplace mental health professionals. Employees receive expert support to manage anxiety, burnout, stress, insomnia, depression, bereavement and grief, trauma, and interpersonal difficulties—issues that can significantly affect their health and productivity.
How We Help Our Recovery Counselling service equips employees with practical tools to:
Recover and maintain their wellbeing
Build resilience and coping skills
Navigate the sometimes anxiety-filled process of returning to work
Restore their overall wellbeing and capacity to flourish in the workplace
Why Choose Wellbeing Partners?
Expert Support: Our team consists of fully qualified and experienced workplace mental health professionals, each with a minimum of 10 years post-qualification experience and professional association membership
Tailored Approach: Each employee is provided with confidential sessions to improve their mental wellbeing, including a wellbeing recovery plan that is based on their individual needs
Convenient Access: Sessions take place online, making it easy for employees to access support from the comfort of their own space
Cost-Effective: Our service provides a budget-friendly solution to help employees recover and return to work with confidence.
By offering Recovery Counselling, you’re not just supporting your employees during their sick leave; you’re also investing in their long-term wellbeing and productivity. Helping employees return to work with confidence and resilience benefits your business, too—by reducing the risk of longer-term absence and supporting a healthier, more engaged workforce.
Contact us below to learn more about how Wellbeing Partners can support your employees through their recovery journey.
Elevate Employee Wellbeing with Fully Qualified Workplace Counselling
At Wellbeing Partners, we understand the critical importance of mental health in the workplace. Our team of fully qualified and experienced workplace counsellors is dedicated to providing effective support that prioritises prevention and recovery for mental health and wellbeing challenges.
Why Choose Wellbeing Partners?
Qualified Experts: Our mental health clinicians all hold recognised qualifications and boast a minimum of 10 years of post-qualification clinical experience at master level. All team members are accredited by leading professional associations, including the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).
Flexible Support Options: We offer ad hoc, flexible, and regular counselling services tailored to your organisational needs. Employees can access support quickly through online or in-person sessions, ensuring convenience and accessibility.
Value-Driven Investment: Our approach delivers excellent value, demonstrating a high return on investment in employee wellbeing.
A New Approach to Mental Health Support
Wellbeing Partners is at the forefront of transforming workplace mental health services, moving beyond traditional Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) to provide timely and impactful support. Our clinical excellence, many years of experience, and our focus on prevention and proactive care distinguishes us from other providers.
Our counselling services empower employees to address a wide range of issues in a supportive and confidential environment. Our expertise encompasses:
Anxiety
Depression
Burnout
Bereavement and loss
Insomnia and sleep disorders
Trauma
Interpersonal relationship challenges
Chronic stress
Neurodivergent mental health
Menopause-related mental health issues
Health-related mental health challenges
Invest in Your Employees’ Wellbeing
Supporting mental health is not just a responsibility; it’s an investment in your organisation’s future. With Wellbeing Partners you can ensure your employees receive the professional guidance they need to thrive both personally and professionally.
We look forward to partnering with you to create a healthier, more resilient workplace!
To learn more about our services and how we can support your team, please complete the form below
We are excited to launch our new range of Seasonal Bite-Sized Lunch & Learns – a series of five x 30 minute winter wellbeing workshops for your employees to learn key tips and techniques for boosting their wellbeing throughout autumn and winter. The sessions are delivered by our team of fully qualified and experienced professionals.
These shorter sessions offer a timely and accessible way of reminding your staff about vital self-care actions for staying well and productive over the colder, darker months.
Bite-Sized Lunch & Learns – 30 minutes each, live online for your employees
Combatting Loneliness in Winter: Loneliness and isolation are common experiences felt by a growing number of people, particularly over the autumn and winter months. Loneliness is a risk factor for anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.. This session looks at how loneliness can develop, and practical steps to bolster connection and a sense of belonging. Topics include:
Intentional connection – how to boost engagement with friends, family and community
The importance of warmth and exercise
Conscious social media usage
Self-care for supporting mental wellbeing
Movement for Mental Health: Humans evolved to be active every day, but the colder months see most working people moving and exercising less, impacting mood and mental wellbeing and overall health. This session explores strategies for how employees can incorporate movement into break times, and find time for enjoyable, regular exercise throughout winter, bolstering both mental and physical wellbeing. Topics include:
The link between movement and mental health
Stepping up outdoors activity in daily life
Gentle movement and stretching for stress relief
Mindful movement, flow state and resilience
Nutrition Basics for Winter: As we move into the autumn and winter there’s a shift what we desire and require in terms of food and nutrition. This session helps your employees to gain knowledge and skills for planning and preparing for eating well over the winter months for enjoyment, warmth, immune system, physical health and mental wellbeing. Topics include:
When to consider supplementation
Immune-enhancing foods
Balancing your plate
Get Your Sleep Sorted: Good mental health is underpinned by heathy sleep, and in the winter months our sleep drive and sleeping patterns can change. This short masterclass teaches the basics of becoming a “good sleeper” using psychology-based techniques – a highly successful method designed to combat insomnia, to cultivate the foundations of rest needed for good mental health wellbeing. Topics include:
Steps to become a good sleeper
From poor sleeper to good sleeper – the process
The psychological connection between bed and sleep
Avoiding Anxiety in Winter: Fewer daylight hours, a seemingly monochrome environment, the damp, the cold and the relentlessness of the winter months are often associated with depression, however the winter environment can be a trigger for anxiety too. In this session, we explore a variety of anxiety reduction techniques, giving employees a toolkit to feel more calm and content during winter. Topics include:
Boost your serotonin and dopamine
Reframing anxiety – not an enemy to be defeated
The Mindful Pause – anxiety reduction in the moment
Grounding, and settling the mind
If you would like more information on these Lunch & Learns, please complete the form below:
The ‘Malingering Myth’: Why employees keep mental health struggles hidden in the workplace
There is a disturbing narrative gaining traction in professional circles that argues that many employees suffering from mental health issues are “malingering” – exaggerating or even faking symptoms to facilitate time off work.
The idea that large numbers of people are using mental health as a convenient excuse to avoid work is a myth. Whilst there has always been (and always will be) those who “pull a sickie” and exaggerate mental and physical ailments, this is very much the minority and should be acknowledged as such.
However, this myth persists and, more seriously, it serves to divert attention away from a much more serious issue – the fact that many employees with genuine mental health challenges are avoiding disclosing these issues or seeking help for fear of how they will be perceived.
The growth of mental health awareness in the workplace has encouraged more open conversations on the subject, but it has also sparked a backlash. Increasingly the discussion around employee mental health is tinged with scepticism and even hostility, with many in senior management dismissing mental health issues as exaggerated at best, and, at worst, completely fabricated.
This ‘malingering myth’ is inaccurate and dangerous. It allows people to dismiss what are real health concerns, to ignore discussion around modifying work practices that may be causing mental health difficulties and, perhaps most concerning, it stops people who are really suffering from speaking up.
A series of studies from across the globe have highlighted that, contrary to what the ‘malingering myth’ suggests, people with mental health issues are unlikely to seek time off work, with many employees loathe to even disclose they are suffering for fear of the stigma and consequences it may bring in the workplace[i].
One study highlighted that 91% of Britons, 92% of Americans and 90% of Australians believe that people with mental health issues are treated differently in the workplace and therefore do not disclose or seek support[ii]. The impact is highlighted in the conclusion of a study by the American Psychiatric Association:
“More than half of people with mental illness don’t receive help for their disorders. Often, people avoid or delay seeking treatment due to concerns about being treated differently or fears of losing their jobs and livelihood. That’s because stigma, prejudice and discrimination against people with mental illness are still very much a problem“.[iii]
So, contrary to the unhelpful idea that people are likely to use mental health as an excuse to avoid work, the truth is that people are so concerned with how they might be perceived in the workplace, they continue to work, whilst suffering in silence.
Research shows that in-house support for employee mental health reduces the recovery time in comparison to employees who seek external professional support.[iv] Employees who soldier on in silence risk worsening their mental health and reducing their engagement and performance. Organisations that sustain a culture of suspicion and stigma will therefore perform worse than those that recognise and support employee mental health.
It is therefore both a duty of care for your employees and good business sense to offer open support for mental health at work, and there are three clear approaches to achieve this.
Employee Counselling is an intelligent, supportive and economical option for organisations. It offers both short and long-term gains for individuals and organisations. You may find it useful to introduce regular employee counselling sessions for employees, each led by a multi-qualified specialist. Alternatively urgent employee mental health sessions can be booked on a case-by-case basis, providing a cost-effective, high-quality alternative to the more familiar EAP approach.
To compliment employee counselling organisations should consider training their managers and leaders. Our flagship Mental Health for Training for Managers is highly effective at giving managers the confidence, knowledge and skills to support a team member who may be struggling with a mental health issue. Participants will become adept at identifying when a team member is in crisis, learn the conversational skills required to help them, and develop the know-how to signpost them to professional support.
Finally, it is good forward planning for organisations to offer programmes that empower employees to support themselves if they are concerned about their mental wellbeing. Our How to Improve your Mental Healthworkshop uses straightforward, evidence-based strategies and techniques to provide employees with practical steps for enhancing all aspects of their mental health. These techniques help people take timely actions to stop these issues developing into crises.
If you would like more information on our Workplace Counselling Service, Mental Health Training for Managers or the How to Improve your Mental Health workshop, please complete the form below:
Insight into Wellbeing Partner’s Senior Counsellor and Presenter
Alex Macfarlane MBACP
Fully qualified mental health professional
Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
10+ years post qualification experience in workplace mental health support services
What do you enjoy about working as a counsellor, mental health trainer and presenter for Wellbeing Partners?
Working for Wellbeing Partners has afforded me many opportunities to pursue my professional interests in an environment where I am connecting with people and making a difference. I have always had a deep-rooted interest in helping individuals realise their potential, to fully utilise their capabilities and talents, but so often people are held back from this due to adverse mindsets. I was particularly interested in the significant impact that workplace environments have on mental health and overall well-being.
Working for Wellbeing Partners provides me with many different ways to help employees manage stress, improve their work-life balance, and enhance their productivity and overall job satisfaction. I have the regular one-to-one counselling work that helps individuals manage stressors and to flourish in the face of professional and personal challenges. I get to work at managerial and even organisational level to help train and inform organisational approach and policy to mental wellbeing. In addition to this, I deliver specialised wellbeing workshops, offering practical mental health support to employees on a variety of important topics. These approaches allow me to support large numbers of individuals and gives me a real sense of professional fulfilment.
What are some common themes that employees come to see you about, and how do you support them?
Common themes that I have work with include, anxiety, stress, burnout, interpersonal conflicts, sleep-issues and work-life balance challenges. In recent years too I have noticed a greater demand one of my specialist areas, that of supporting neurodivergence and mental health. I support employees by using scientifically validated techniques to help people develop healthier, more effective habits. I aim to create a safe and collaborative space, whilst remaining objective and non-judgemental, which is conducive for self-exploration. We work together to identify and change their thought and behaviour patterns that are preventing them from living a fulfilling and meaningful life. The employee will learn strategies, so that they can better cope with challenges they may face in the future.
I conduct workshops and training on topics such as how to manage stress, mental health training for managers, relationship building workshops, and how to improve one’s sleep.
What role does a workplace counsellor play in enhancing a greater wellbeing culture within an organization?
A workplace counsellor plays a vital role in promoting a healthy and supportive culture within an organisation. It helps to address individual employee concerns and identify possible longer term mental health issues, whilst providing resources to support the individual moving forward. I help the individual to feel empowered and valued, which can increase feelings of wellbeing, which leads to greater productivity in the workplace. Additionally, Wellbeing Partners work with the Human Resources and People’s Team to make sure our workshops and trainings are tailored to meet the needs of the organisation. Which adds to the wellbeing culture of a company by promoting openness and support for mental health.
Have you got a success story from one of your counselling sessions that have positively impacted an employee?
One of my clients was suffering with generalised anxiety and burnout, which was affecting their performance at work as well as their relationships. Through our counselling sessions, we identified the origin of their anxiety and worked together to develop appropriate coping skills. Over time, the individual reported symptom relief and better able to function in their role at work. This had a positive impact on their wellbeing which gave them greater headspace to pursue their goals and focus on developing their relationships.
World Mental Health Day 10 October 2024 – this year’s theme is “Workplace Mental Health”
World Mental Health Day 2024 is 10th October
This year’s theme is “Mental Health in the Workplace”
Workers are experiencing higher levels of exhaustion, stress and burnout, anxiety and insomnia
Prioritising events and specialist counselling in your workplace to celebrate World Mental Health Day key to setting the right tone
October 10th is World Mental Health Day 2024. This year the theme is “It is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace”, a much needed opportunity to focus our attention on the mental health challenges faced in the modern workplace.
Unfortunately, the number of people experiencing mental health issues in the workplace remains high. A quarter of UK workers have reported being unable to cope with the stresses and pressures of the workplace, whilst last year, 1 in 5 employees took time off work because of mental health issues[i]. Shockingly, over 50% of all sick leave in the UK is a result of stress, depression or anxiety[ii]. Part of this is the mental health legacy of the pandemic, but there is much in the day-to-day demands of the workplace that is contributing to these issues.
Long hours, being on-call for emails and messages outside work hours, the shifts in energy required by hybrid working, a lack of work-life balance and troubles with workplace relationships are all factors contributing to mental health pressures and if people do not have the support and tools to cope, then the workplace mental health crisis will continue.
If you would like to put on some events in your workplace to celebrate World Mental Health Day and help support your employees, you have come to the right place. Wellbeing Partners are workplace mental health specialists. We have a range of workshops and training services as well as a specialist workplace counselling service, all of which are available to support employee mental health.
Workshops
Central to the work of Wellbeing Partners is empowering people to support their own mental health through our wellbeing workshops. These 60-minute interactive sessions give your employees practical skills, and they cover a range of topics. Some that you may want to run for World Mental Health Day include:
How to Improve Your Mental Health – mental health a continuum and this session explores how certain behaviours and techniques help us move towards, and sustain, good mental health. Focusing on practical day-to-day changes and tips, this session provides a thorough overview of how we can take back control over our mental health and help ourselves be happier, engaged and productive.
Overcoming Burnout– this session provides an overview of the condition, the underlying causes, signs and symptoms, and focuses primarily on a range of practical, evidence-based solutions to reduce the symptoms of burnout.
Finding the Right Work-life Balance – a lack of work-life balance is a key driver of workplace stress, and this workshop shows how we can ensure we are engaged and productive at work whilst also setting the necessary boundaries needed for rest and good mental wellbeing.
Introduction to Mindfulness/Mindfulness for Stress Reduction – mindfulness is clinically proven to reduce stress, anxiety and depression. These workshops demystify mindfulness, put it in its scientific context and show people how to use this powerful skill to support their mental health.
Get Moving for Mental Health – a sedentary lifestyle will negatively impact your mental health, an increasingly bigger issue as many of us work from home and move less frequently. This session shows the importance of regular movement and how it can be incorporated into a busy working day.
Managing Stress and Enhancing Resilience – the session provides participants with the knowledge and tools to reduce their stress and anxiety and increase their sense of mental wellbeing, and to improve and enhance their own resilience and mental health.
Resilience: Taming the Inner Critic – utilising traditional resilience skills, growth mindset techniques and cutting-edge research into self-compassion and resilience, this session endows individuals with practical skills and a deep rooted sense of strength in the face of life’s challenges, both professional and personal.
Neurodivergent Mental Health – neurodivergence is a risk factor for mental health issues and emotional dysregulation due to the slight differences in how the nervous system functions for those with ADHD, autism and other neurodivergences. This one-hour workshop provides a comprehensive range of self-care tips for your neurodivergent employees to effectively manage their mental health and wellbeing.
Mental Health Training Services
For World Mental Health Day, you might also consider using our training services that allow managers, people teams and employees to explore how they manage mental health challenges in the workplace and how to encourage psychologically safe and appropriate discussions on these issues.
Mental Health Training for Managers – This two-hour course provides your managers with the confidence, knowledge, skills and boundaries to support a team member who maybe struggling with their mental health. The course teaches managers how to create a psychologically safe environment and how to signpost individuals onto the professional support services in an effective and appropriate way.
Talking Mental Health – This 90-minute session for all employees focuses on mental health issues, the recovery model, plus the skills for supporting others and improving our own mental health. It covers a wide range of aspects around mental health and mental health issues and provides participants with practical steps and advice to enhance their own mental wellbeing.
Workplace Counselling
Wellbeing Partners are experts at providing specialist workplace counselling that is distinctly different to the EAP model. Our broad approach to workplace wellbeing means that smaller issues can be prevented from developing into crises and more complex issues. Our counselling services focus on creating the framework and confidence that people need to maintain their mental health once the sessions are concluded, reducing likelihood of later relapses. In-House Workplace Counselling is not a luxury, but an intelligent, supportive and economical response to mental health issues. It offers both short and long-term gains for individuals and organisations.
For further information on World Mental Health Day and any of the workshops and services we provide, please complete the form below.
Workplace Counselling and Support Services for Employee Burnout
Burnout continues to be a pervasive issue affecting workplace mental health, with many employees finding it difficult to effectively manage the various pressures they face professionally and personally.
The day-to-day demands of the workplace – long hours, being on-call for emails and messages outside work hours, the shifts in energy required by hybrid working, a lack of work-life balance – can mingle with personal life pressures and multiple responsibilities. The mental health legacy of the pandemic, ongoing financial issues as well as the prevalence of global strife add another layer of pressure, and the toll on employee mental health is evidenced in the rise in burnout cases.
Workplace counselling has emerged as an invaluable tool in supporting employees and empowering them to develop resilience and reduce burnout.
The Impact of Burnout on Employees
If not acknowledge and managed, burnout can quickly become overwhelming, with employees experiencing debilitating fatigue, sleep issues, lethargy and stress-ailments like headaches or gastrointestinal issues. Burnout causes heightened levels of stress, anxiety, detachment and even a pervasive sense of failure, meaning those suffering may struggle with concentration, memory, and decision-making, making it difficult to perform effectively at work.
Burnout also takes a heavy toll on employees’ personal lives. The emotional drain from work often spills over into time away from work, leading to personal issues that then, in a vicious circle, add to the strains of employment, entrenching the burnout cycle.
The cumulative effects of burnout can lead to a significant decline in job performance. Employees may become less productive, make more mistakes, be absent more regularly and miss deadlines. This impacts both the individual and the organisation, leading to decreased overall productivity and morale.
The Role of Specialist Workplace Counselling
Burnout is unlikely to resolve itself due to the ongoing nature of many of the pressures that feed it. Overcoming burnout requires action, but for those experiencing burnout such action can seem daunting and requires external support. Workplace counselling provides this support, giving employees a confidential space to explore their feelings, understand the causes of their stress, and develop strategies to cope more effectively.
Our broad approach to challenges through our workplace counselling means that smaller issues can be dealt with before they develop into crises. It means bigger problems get the timely support required to help people overcome them. It increases people’s ability to engage in the workplace, to perform, whilst also receiving much needed support. Our counselling also focuses on creating the framework and confidence that people need to maintain their mental health once the sessions are concluded, reducing likelihood of later relapses.
One Hour Lunch & Learn Workshop – “Overcoming Burnout”
Another option for organisations looking to support employees facing burnout is to offer our “Overcoming Burnout” workshop. This accessible and interactive session provides an overview of the condition, the underlying causes, signs and symptoms, and focuses primarily on a range of practical, evidence-based solutions to reduce the symptoms of burnout. For employees interested in the subject or looking for guidance on their own experience of burnout, this is the perfect introduction. It may be the guide they need to self-support and build resilience, or it can act as a stepping stone to further professional support through counselling.
The session utilises an interactive quiz to identify symptoms and severity of burnout, before explaining how burnout impacts our neurotransmitter function and our behaviour. It also looks at practical tips and solutions for regaining energy and motivation such as setting work/life boundaries, boosting your energy and motivation, how to stimulate your brain connection and reducing negative thinking patterns and offers support for the individual and the organisation.
Fostering a Supportive Work Environment
Beyond individual support, offering workplace counselling and wellbeing workshops contributes to a broader culture of care within organisations. When employees see that their mental health is valued and supported, they are more likely to feel engaged and motivated. Organisations that offer counselling services are making a clear statement about their commitment to employee wellbeing. This can enhance job satisfaction and loyalty, reduce turnover, and attract new talent, all of which contribute to a more robust and resilient workforce.
Specialist Employee Counselling for Burnout is not a luxury, but an intelligent, supportive and economical response. It offers both short and long-term gains for individuals and organisations. You may find it useful to introduce regular employee counselling sessions for employees, each led by a multi-qualified specialist. Alternatively urgent employee mental health sessions can be booked on a case-by-case basis, providing a cost-effective, high-quality alternative to the more familiar EAP approach.
If you would like more information on our Counselling Service for Burnout, or our one our Lunch & Learn Workshop “Overcoming Burnout” please complete the form below:
As Generation Z (those born between 1997 and 2010) enters the workforce in increasing numbers, they bring new perspectives and challenges that are reshaping workplace dynamics. From struggles with work-life balance and isolation due to remote working to navigating intergenerational differences in workplace etiquette, Gen Z faces unique hurdles in the workplace.
Understanding these challenges, and the expectations that Gen Z has for mental health support and workplace flexibility, is crucial for creating a supportive and productive work environment that allows the pursuit of meaningful work.
The Challenge of Work-Life Balance
Generation Z has entered a working environment where the lines between work and personal life have become increasingly blurred. The shift to remote working, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has made it challenging for many employees to establish clear boundaries. With the workplace now as accessible as their own homes, Gen Z employees often find themselves working beyond typical hours whilst taking fewer breaks, leading to burnout and feelings of resentment. This constant accessibility can also create unrealistic expectations from employers, further exacerbating stress and dissatisfaction.
Intergenerational Gaps and Workplace Etiquette
A perenial issue for younger generations, one now facing Generation Z in the workplace, is the intergenerational gap in values and etiquette. Often, younger employees have different work styles and expectations compared to their established colleagues. These differences can lead to misunderstandings, unfair assumptions, and even hostile work environments. For example, while Gen Z might value flexibility and work-life integration, organisations may continue to prioritise traditional office-based work and established routines and time schedules. Bridging these gaps requires open communication and a willingness to adapt on both sides.
Isolation in Remote Work Environments
While remote work offers flexibility, it also poses challenges in terms of social interaction and relationship building. For many Gen Z employees, work is a primary source of social engagement and the lack of face-to-face interactions can lead to feelings of isolation and social anxiety. Building a sense of belonging and connection with colleagues becomes more difficult when interactions are confined to screens. Employers need to find creative ways to foster team cohesion and ensure that remote workers do not feel disconnected, whilst still allowing the flexibility inherent in hybrid-working.
Mental Health and Support in the Workplace
Mental health is a significant concern for Generation Z, especially as they navigate new professional environments. Many in this generation seek support for their mental health needs but often feel that their employers do not provide sufficient resources or compassion. This lack of support can be rooted in generational differences in how mental health is perceived and addressed, especially as widespread workplace mental health support is a relatively new phenomenon. Creating a workplace culture that prioritises mental wellbeing and provides appropriate resources is essential for fostering a supportive environment that benefits all employees.
Pursuit of Meaningful Careers
Generation Z places a high value on finding jobs that combine meaning and opportunities for growth. They are keen on understanding how their current roles align with their future career aspirations. However, the uncertainty of navigating career paths, especially in these times of economic turbulence, can lead to pressure and frustration. Gen Z individuals want to ensure that their work has purpose and contributes to their personal and professional development. Employers should endeavour to offer clear paths for advancement whilst support their employees’ aspirations. This will help the organisation to retain talent and foster job satisfaction amongst Gen Z.
Generation Z brings fresh perspectives and expectations to the workplace, and understanding their unique challenges is vital for creating a harmonious and productive environment. By addressing issues related to work-life balance, intergenerational differences, remote work isolation, mental health support, and career growth, employers can better support their Gen Z employees. This, in turn, can lead to a more engaged, innovative, and satisfied workforce.
For more insights into the evolving workplace and strategies to support diverse teams, contact us at [email protected] or complete the form below.
Employee Counselling Update: The Rising Impact of Personal Relationship Difficulties on Workplace Mental Health and Performance
In recent months, there has been a very sharp increase in the number of employees seeking workplace counselling support for personal relationship problems, including infidelities, abusive behaviours, separations and divorce. This represents a shift away from burnout as the primary reason for employees seeking workplace counselling, and highlights yet another legacy of the pandemic – the detrimental impact on intimate relationships.
Experiencing difficulties and endings in our personal relationships often has a deeply emotional and distressing impact on all parts of our lives. Our intimate partners and our shared experiences with them are something we often rely on for permanence, stability and certainty. When our relationships go through turbulence or come to an end, we can be left with feelings of loss, anger, guilt, anxiety and despair.
Whilst these issues have traditionally been seen as the preserve of the “personal” rather than “professional” sphere, there is increasing understanding that it is very difficult to separate from such emotionally overwhelming matters when we are trying to work.
Employees who are going through relationship breakdown are more likely to experience symptoms of stress, anxiety, insomnia and clinical depression, in addition to financial worries and the impact of relationship breakdown on children and other family members. This is burden enough to manage, on top of professional and workplace responsibilities which can be even more challenging in the midst of crisis. A lack of focus and concentration, low self-esteem and emotional swings make it hard for people to engage in their work, creating a vicious circle that can contribute to overwhelm, exhaustion and mental health issues.
This is where our specialist workplace counselling service can offer your employees a safety net and support structure for their mental wellbeing and provide tools to improve their ability to focus and be effective at work, boosting their self-esteem and confidence.
Whilst many EAPs are turning away employees who are struggling with important issues such as relationship breakdown, our specialist workplace counselling service is well-equipped to support all employees and their wide range of issues and needs.
Our Workplace Counselling Team are fully qualified counselling psychotherapists – with at least 10 years post-qualification experience in supporting employee mental health and wellbeing.
Workplace absenteeism due to mental health concerns such as anxiety, stress, burnout, depression, and trauma is on the rise. In the UK, the average number of sick days taken by employees has surged by 55%...
At Wellbeing Partners, we understand the critical importance of mental health in the workplace. Our team of fully qualified and experienced workplace counsellors is dedicated to providing effective support that prioritises prevention and recovery for...
Sign up to our newsletter
Keep up to date with our latest news and
updates around employee health and wellbeing
