The CIPD is pleased to support the new 'Wellbeing in Small Business' campaign, just launched by the Federation of Small Business (FSB). It includes a Wellbeing in Small Business hub where you can find useful information and practical advice for your organisation on mental health and general wellbeing. As well as case studies from the FSB membership and partner organisations like mental health charity Mind, there’s an accessible and user-friendly guide ‘Wellbeing in Small Business – How you can help’.

Although the guide is aimed at providing ideas that small business owners and the self-employed can adopt to improve their mental health and wellbeing and that of their staff, it can be just as useful for larger organisations and HR professionals – especially for those just embarking on the development of a health and well-being programme. It sets out a number of sound steps that an organisation can take to build a holistic programme, and the ideas in the guide have been developed alongside organisations such as the CIPD, Public Health England, Healthy Lives Matter Scotland and the mental health charity Mind. It therefore acts as a gateway to a wealth of good resources for health and well-being.

Research by the CIPD shows that many more employers are taking some kind of action to foster healthier workplaces, and yet there remains a lack of integration in how health and well-being programmes are implemented across the organisation. To prevent employee health and well-being becoming isolated from the everyday business, and for programmes to bring sustainable benefit, organisations need to root their efforts in the culture, leadership and people management practices of the organisation.