Wellbeing for micro businesses
Are you able to switch off from work? Can you put everyday pressures to one side?
Make wellbeing work for your business
As an employer, you may feel that wellbeing can often be confusing and difficult to implement in your business. If you run a micro business, we’re here to support you and your team.
Micro-businesses: switching off the ‘always on’ culture
Running a micro-business can be stressful. With the responsibility of securing work, making decisions and chasing payments – over half of business owners noted they are worried about their irregular income – there’s a lot of pressure to deal with. Add to that the impact of being constantly connected via technology and the fact that 87% of employees report problems with switching off outside of work.
This ‘always on’ culture is a recipe for poor wellbeing, which may manifest in to physical and mental health problems.
At Bupa, we believe it’s important to have an open dialogue with businesses to ensure employee wellbeing is understood and well-managed. So, we’ve spoken to micro-businesses to get their thoughts on the ‘always on’ culture and its impact on productivity.
Everyday pressures
According to recent research, over 30% of small business owners take under five days leave annually. Even more worryingly, 21% take none at all. And even those who do go away are likely to answer work emails and calls, with 85% stating they do this.
With so little space to relax, everyday pressures can easily build up, risking always being stressed or fuelling mental health problems that require treatment and time off. Figures from the Office for National Statistics make it clear that stress and mental health problems are among the top reasons for taking sick leave – an alarming 15.8 million working days are lost to these problems annually.
Poor mental wellbeing can in turn make it easier for physical health conditions to take hold, as exercise and self-care get neglected.
Long-term thinking
When you have a small team, wellbeing concerns have a major impact – especially if they affect the boss. Being in charge of all the major decisions can make you doubly reluctant to take time off – even when you really need to.
In reality, the consequences of being ‘always on’ and connected when you are stressed, depressed or physically unwell can have long-term impacts on both your health and your company’s productivity.
Taking care of yourself and ensuring you’re socially, as well as professionally, fulfilled can lead to a happier, healthier, more productive workplace for all.
Take the strain off
Pressure is always going to be high when you’re the one in charge. But there are tactics you can employ to ease the situation and lift your sense of wellbeing.
Unplug from technology
Shutting down your computer and switching off your phone can be a simple escape from everyday pressures. Going device-free, even for a few hours each day, will help you to recharge for the next working day.
Be flexible
Introducing a flexible working policy for both you and your staff is a simple way to reduce the impact of work on other aspects of life, such as spending time with your family. Options you can consider include remote working on some or all days, job sharing, and compressed hours.
Adapt your workspace
Having a workspace that’s more than just a place to work is important. 85% of people surveyed in England noted that their feelings are influenced by the quality of their environment. Even introducing more plants or sitting by a window could make a difference to your wellbeing.
Work out in the workplace
If you struggle to find time to exercise out of work, try bringing exercise into work. In-work yoga or exercise classes can boost the wellbeing of you and your employees, as well as promoting team bonding.
Sources
CIPD Report (Health and well-being at work), May 2018
Aldermore report (SME Future attitudes Insight Report), Q2 2017 (PDF, 3.44MB)
FSB report (Wellbeing and Small Business: How You Can Help), 2017
Office for National Statistics Report (Sickness absence in the labour market: 2016), March 2017
Bupa cares
You don’t have to deal with the worrying issue of employee wellbeing alone. Bupa’s extensive team of medical professionals are here to help, with services that approach wellbeing from every angle.
Extended mental health cover
We’ve renewed our commitment to mental health by extending our cover and removing the majority of exclusions. † Our cover now includes all mental health conditions except for dementia and learning or behavioural development problems. And we continue to cover alcohol and drug abuse as well as self-harm as standard – issues that may go hand-in-hand with depression.
Workplace mental health hub
Get to grips with the basics of mental health support at our online mental health hub, full of the information you need to protect yourself and your staff. It’s there for all businesses to use, with or without our health insurance, so you can take a look today.
Bupa Anytime HealthLine
Join Bupa and you can get mental and physical health advice directly from nurses anytime, anywhere with our 24/7 phone line.
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Find out more about our health and wellbeing cover for your employees
For small to medium businesses
(2-249 employees)
Healthcare solutions for businesses that want to cover between 2 and 249 employees
For large corporate businesses
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Healthcare solutions for businesses that want to cover 250 employees or more.
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Company healthcare solutions to help you support your clients boost productivity, morale and wellbeing.
† Please note: Existing in-patient, out-patient and day case benefit limits and exclusions for pre-existing conditions still apply to our cover for mental health conditions.
Bupa Anytime HealthLine is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Bupa health insurance is provided by Bupa Insurance Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 3956433. Bupa Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Arranged and administered by Bupa Insurance Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales No. 3829851. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London EC2R 7HJ.
