October is Emotional Wellness Month: How Top Companies Prioritise Emotional Wellbeing in the Workplace

Emotional wellness is not just a personal journey - it’s vital to a thriving workplace culture. Many companies are recognising the value of supporting their employees’ emotional health and creating environments where people can bring their best selves to work. Here are some inspiring examples of businesses leading the way:

• Google: Known for its innovative culture, Google prioritises employee wellness with mental health days, mindfulness courses, and free on-site counselling services. They’ve seen how emotional well-being improves creativity and productivity.

• Deloitte: This global consulting firm offers a ‘Wellbeing Fund,’ allowing employees to spend a set amount on wellness activities of their choice, from therapy to meditation apps. Deloitte understands that giving employees the autonomy to choose their emotional health path boosts engagement.

• EY (Ernst and Young): EY has introduced a ‘Better You’ initiative, which promotes emotional wellness through access to virtual mental health services and mindfulness programs. They also train managers to be aware of emotional health issues and support their teams with empathy.

• Unilever: Unilever offers flexible working hours and encourages employees to manage stress through their mental health support programs, which include resilience workshops and digital tools. They recognise that emotional well-being directly impacts business performance.

What Can Your Business Do?

Supporting emotional wellness in the workplace doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some simple steps to get started:

• Provide access to counselling services or mental health support.

• Encourage a healthy work-life balance through flexible hours.

• Organise team check-ins that focus not just on work, but on how employees are feeling.

• Train managers to recognise signs of stress and burnout and to offer support.

By investing in emotional wellness, your business can cultivate a more engaged, creative, and resilient workforce. Let’s lead by example and make emotional wellness a priority this month - and every month!