Give the green light to better worker well-being on Blue Monday!

“Blue Monday” is the ideal time to commit to promoting mental health and well-being in workplaces around the country, according to CIPD Ireland, the professional body for HR and learning & development. Today, January 20th has been designated as Blue Monday 2020, often cited as one of the toughest days of the year. A combination of factors including the fading feelgood factor of Christmas and New Year, dark days and low temperatures all contribute to the theory, which has become popular in recent years.

Director of CIPD Ireland, Mary Connaughton says: “We can all agree how difficult it can seem to get through January. The value of calling it out for employers is to raise awareness of the issues affecting workers’ mental health, and using it as a launchpad to promote well-being at work, all year round”.

Due to modern working styles, many of us spend more time with co-workers than our own families, so CIPD Ireland has these suggestions for employers on simple ways to acknowledge that some days can feel long and tough:

— Offer a simple treat at lunchtime – even something healthy like fruit. Gathering at meal or break times is the simplest way to spark conversation.

— Encourage a team activity, again it can be as simple as a group walk at lunchtime – fresh air can be uplifting and the activity encourages communication.

— Talk about how the workplace is a supportive environment or how it could improve on that front, inviting feedback is important!

— Provide encouraging communication on plans for the year ahead – mix updates on targets with news about programmes to recognise the contributions and achievements of teams and individuals.

Colleagues will often notice if someone is having a tough day, and some suggestions to help contribute to a positive atmosphere include:

— Ask ‘how are you?’

— Listen actively with a sensitive ear.

— Say Goodbye – We tend to think about the importance of checking in and saying good morning to kick off the day, but we forget that it can be just as important, and make us feel good as well, to say a friendly and proper goodbye. Try to leave on a positive note – compliment a colleague on work well done or recognise achievements.

— Offer to help if you see someone in need.

— Seek out support if you need to talk to someone yourself!

Mary also has this advice: “If you’re concerned about the wellbeing of someone in your workplace, it’s important you don’t ignore it. Reach out to them if you feel able to, otherwise, perhaps mention your worries to your HR Department. They’re trained to assess these situations and decide how best to help”.

Research published by CIPD Ireland last year highlighted the benefit of having a wellbeing initiative in the workplace. 55% of companies said it resulted in better employee morale and engagement, and 34% said it had helped them develop a healthier culture. CIPD Ireland believes Blue Monday is also a good day for companies to commit to a drawing up a new policy on worker wellbeing in 2020, or review and update their existing one.