Mindfulness at work: Fad or future wellbeing?
And they’re not alone. From high street banks HSBC and Lloyds through to companies like Jaguar Land Rover and BT to public sector bodies including schools, prisons and the NHS, mindfulness is being embraced across the nation. Indeed there’s even a cross-party group of UK politicians dedicated to it.
But what exactly is it? Why should the business world care? And is it a fad or is mindfulness the future of employee wellbeing?
How stress impacts business performance
The 2018 UK Workplace Stress Survey found that 91% of British workers have experienced stress at work, with one in three affected by it at least once a week.
Perhaps more worryingly, the research highlighted that workplace stress impacts business productivity, absenteeism, staff retention and health. Indeed 25% of workers were found to be less productive at work while more than one in 10 take sick days due to stress.
With an antidote to workplace stress so urgently needed, innovative HR professionals are looking beyond traditional business responses to alternative approaches such as mindfulness.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness involves focussing one’s attention on what’s happening in the present moment in one’s mind, body and external environment.
While it originated in Buddhism, four decades of modern psychological theory have transformed mindfulness into a primarily secular practice. Indeed mindfulness at work is sometimes rebranded as “high performance classes” or “productivity sessions” to remove any whiff of its religious roots – and perhaps also from its less business-focussed celebrity advocates, such as Russell Brand.
Mindfulness at work
Mindfulness at work comes in many forms. Google created a “Search Inside Yourself” meditation course; Nike offers “mindful runs” via an app; and Goldman Sachs has integrated mindfulness into its wider resilience programme. Many others have begun rolling out employee wellbeing programmes.
Factors such as size, location and budget all influence how a company can promote mindfulness. However typical offerings include mediation and yoga classes, apps for employees such as Headspace and quiet rooms where people can have a still moment away from the hectic rush of the modern workplace.
How does it help businesses?
Over the last decade a host of scientific studies has concluded that mindfulness can help to treat health conditions such as depression and anxiety. This in itself makes the practice appealing to companies struggling with increasingly high levels of stress-related absenteeism.
And while studies into the effects of mindfulness in the workplace are thin on the ground, early evidence indicates it:
- Enables individuals to recognise and respond more effectively to signs of stress.
- Increases individuals’ self-awareness and improves relationships and collaboration between colleagues.
- Enhances resilience.
- Boosts creativity and helps individuals to overcome obstacles more effectively.
In other words, mindfulness can both improve the health of individuals and enhance their performance at work.
Is mindfulness just a fad?
Mindfulness is not a quick fix. There’s a real risk that businesses will jump into the initiative with the best intentions only to drop their support once the initial wave of enthusiasm passes.
However, the growing evidence suggests that investing in mindfulness at work can make a lasting impact on both employee wellbeing and organisational productivity. And as long as forward-looking businesses continue to experience the positive results, mindfulness is here to stay.
To find out how to roll out a holistic employee wellness programme, check out our guide to launching an employee assistance program, or download our new ebook:
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