Health@Work, in partnership with Public Health England, has relaunched the Workplace Wellbeing Charter with a new framework that reflects the evolving landscape of modern workplaces and employee expectations.
Originally introduced in 2014, the Workplace Wellbeing Charter has been instrumental in helping organisations of all sizes across the UK demonstrate their commitment to employee wellbeing. However, in recent years, there have been significant changes in wellbeing research, guidance, and employee priorities.
To stay at the forefront of workplace wellbeing, Health@Work, a division of the Medicash Health & Wellbeing Group, has incorporated these developments into the Charter. This marks the most significant update to the accreditation since its inception.
Employee stress and burnout have become top concerns for HR professionals, and surveys indicate that work-life balance, progressive company cultures, and mental health support are now more important than ever. In response to these changing attitudes, the Workplace Wellbeing Charter has introduced two new standards: ‘Inclusion & Culture’ and ‘Environment & Sustainability’. These additions provide companies with updated benchmarks to assess their approach to wellbeing across the eight Charter standards.
Sue Weir, Chief Executive of Medicash and Health@Work, explains the rationale behind the update: “The work environment in the UK has undergone significant transformations in recent years, leading to shifting expectations, needs, and desires of employees. Employers must adapt to these changes to retain and attract talented personnel. That is why the Health@Work team has comprehensively revised the Charter for 2023. Our objective is to equip our clients with the most up-to-date research, guidance, and best practices, enabling them to consistently prioritize the health and wellbeing of their employees.”
The new standards in the Charter are designed to help employers improve their company image and culture, benefiting their workforce. The ‘Inclusion & Culture’ standard helps organizations enhance psychological safety and leverage the diversity of their workforce, while the ‘Environment & Sustainability’ standard supports the creation of safer, greener, and healthier workplaces.
The Workplace Wellbeing Charter is a nationally recognized accreditation that validates and certifies an organization’s commitment to employee wellbeing. It has proven to be an invaluable tool for many employers in terms of retention and recruitment. For example, Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has found the Charter accreditation to be a fantastic experience, enabling them to benchmark their wellbeing efforts and focus on continuous improvement.
With the updated standards in the Charter, Health@Work aims to provide organisations with the tools to support their busy and diverse workforces, ensuring their wellbeing initiatives remain relevant and effective in the modern workplace.
