This week we are exhibiting at The Watercooler Expo for the first time ever!
Both Green Cross Global (GCG) and Thrive are coming together, partners in crime, to exhibit and help as many people as possible improve their workplace and culture.
In preparation for the event, we asked Head of Health & Wellbeing at GCG, Ross Abbott and Founder of Thrive, Simon Nichols some questions about the event and the wellbeing landscape.
What are some of the main topics/trends that have been appearing in conversations around workplace wellbeing lately?
Ross:
- Actionable Initiatives: Employees are looking beyond awareness days. They want concrete steps to improve wellbeing such as wellbeing policies and training programmes, ERG’s, coaching programmes and resources.
- Holistic Wellbeing: It’s not just about gym memberships anymore. Companies are recognising the importance of mental, emotional, social, and financial wellbeing alongside physical health
- Preventative Focus: There’s a shift towards preventing problems before they start. This could include health screenings or assessments to identify potential issues early
- Financial Wellness: Financial stress is a major concern for employees. Businesses are exploring ways to reduce financial burdens, such as offering financial education workshops or discounts on childcare – For financial wellbeing support, check out our partners, FinWELL.
- Leader’s Role: Managers are seen as key to employee wellbeing. Vulnerable leadership with an emphasis on empathy and open communication is becoming a priority for effective management teams
- Inclusion : A truly inclusive workplace goes beyond just having a diverse workforce. It cultivates an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique talents and perspectives. This means fostering open communication, dismantling unconscious biases, and ensuring everyone has equal access to opportunities and resources. When employees feel they belong, they’re more likely to be engaged, innovative, and contribute to the company’s success.
Simon:
In recent conversations around workplace wellbeing, several key topics have consistently emerged as areas of focus for organisations seeking to improve the health and satisfaction of their employees. Here are some of the main trends:
- Mental Health: There’s been a significant shift towards prioritising mental health in the workplace, similar to physical health. Organisations are increasingly providing resources like access to therapy, mental health days, and training for managers to recognise and address mental health issues in the workplace
- Flexibility and Work-Life Balance: The rise of remote and hybrid work models has highlighted the need for flexible working arrangements to support a better work-life balance. Companies are exploring ways to offer more autonomy over schedules, reducing burnout and accommodating personal life demands.
- Inclusivity and Diversity: There’s a growing recognition of the importance of creating inclusive workplaces that support a diverse workforce. This includes gender inclusivity, racial and ethnic diversity, and accommodating different cultural backgrounds as well as understanding the need for support for Neurodiverse individuals, enhancing both employee satisfaction and organisational performance.
- Neurodiversity: Recognising and supporting neurodiversity in the workplace is increasingly seen as a critical aspect of workplace diversity and inclusion initiatives. Employers are learning to adapt their hiring practices and work environments to be more welcoming and supportive of neurodiverse employees, such as those with ADHD, autism, or dyslexia.
- Communication and Employee Voice: Ensuring that all employees feel heard and valued is crucial. Many companies are adopting more open lines of communication and tools that encourage feedback and dialogue, helping to make the workplace more democratic and responsive to employees’ needs.
These trends reflect a broader understanding that employee wellbeing is multifaceted and crucial to both individual and organisational success. Each of these areas offers unique challenges and opportunities for companies looking to create a healthier, more inclusive, and productive workplace.
Thrive are well placed, along with Green Cross Global, to help organisations see the wood for the trees.
What are you most looking forward to at The Watercooler?
Ross:
For me, if you’re passionate about creating a thriving workplace culture, The Watercooler Expo is the place to be. It brings together leading minds in employee wellbeing and business to explore the latest trends and solutions, with all attending dedicated to building healthier, happier workplaces.
Simon:
For me it’s the people, our vision at Thrive is to help one person at a time, so that’s my intention at The Watercooler, to meet one person at a time and hopefully give them something useful that they will take away and help them to help someone else. The domino effect of support is so important to me and the fact that everyone at the event is there for workplace wellbeing, just fills me with hope.
What are you hoping to get out of Watercooler?
Ross:
I am hoping to network with like-minded professionals and have the opportunity to discuss strategies to cultivate a happier, more productive work environment with all who visit us.
Simon:
Just to make a small impact, whether that’s on one person, one company or one employee, that goes back into their life with a motion to change, to do something more positive or to help another human being support themselves. The Watercooler will give us that platform of change, of acceptance and the ability to make a difference.
What can people expect from/on our stand?
Ross:
Well apart from the experience of meeting our amazing eclectic team, the opportunity to download free resources such as our Watercooler special podcast and takeaway our seeded business cards. I hope visitors leave feeling inspired and empowered that we can support them with a person-focused approach to make a positive impact on their workplace culture.
Simon:
A friendly welcome, a smile and if appropriate a hug. Our stand is a safe space, a space you can be yourself and you are accepted, a space where you can ask questions and you will be treated as an individual, and if you would like to help change the world, we can enable that. You can take our seeded business card to away and plant a wildflower meadow and a fidget toy to help relieve stress and clear your mind.
Do you have a message for people attending the Watercooler Expo?
Ross:
I look forward to seeing you on Stand W517 (just smell for the coffee and follow the scent) and I hope you all have an amazing, inspired visit to the Watercooler.
Simon:
You are enough, right now, as you are , you are loved and you belong, bring who you are to the Expo, be who you want to be. We will be there for you to talk, to vent, to unload, we are your support network. We will help you to Thrive and along with Green Cross Global, together we thrive.
