Sarah Beall, MD at Forum Events & Media Group shares her insights into wellness in the workplace.
In today’s corporate world, the concept of wellness has moved far beyond just physical health. The modern workforce increasingly values holistic well-being, which includes mental, emotional, and social health.
For employers, prioritising wellness within the workplace culture should not just be ‘tick box’ tokenism, nor should it be solely about talent acquisition efforts or boosting productivity. It should be ingrained into the business, creating a sustainable, supportive environment that places employee well-being as a priority.
That’s not to say that embracing wellness does not provide benefits to employers and the performance of their teams. Research has shown that team members who feel good both physically and mentally are more engaged, creative, and motivated. Conversely, poor health—whether physical, emotional, or mental—leads to higher absenteeism, increased turnover, and diminished productivity.
Over the years, Forum Events & Media Group has implemented an employee wellness plan within its overall business strategy, supporting staff with online wellness and mental health platforms, flexible working hours, team activities, incentives, career development programmes and regular training and coaching.
Over the past two years we have added an annual wellness week providing a full week of well-being activities and hiring external holistic professionals to run online and in-person activities in the office.
This year’s Wellness Week took place on 21–25 October and allowed our employees to benefit from:
- Brain training, a modern neuroscience.
- Reiki, a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation.
- Sound baths and meditation sessions
- Chair massages
- Group dog walks
- Breath workshop
Richard Harris, founder of Polestar: Hypnotherapy and Mind Mastery says that employees who have access to a wellness program often experience significant improvements in both their professional and personal lives. Programs focused on stress reduction, such as mindfulness, hypnotherapy, and relaxation techniques, can help individuals manage workplace pressures more effectively, leading to increased focus and productivity.
Jen Lane, portfolio manager at Forum said: “Initiatives like ‘Well-being Weeks’ significantly enhance mental health support and foster a positive work culture. The variety of workshops and activities allows employees to engage in meaningful ways, reinforcing the importance of work-life balance and personal development.”
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