From burnout to balance - supporting employees where it matters the most

Employee wellbeing has taken centre stage in recent years, and for good reason. The health of your people is the foundation of a thriving workplace. Yet, for many organisations, striking the balance between supporting employees through sickness and helping them stay healthy remains a challenge.

The impact of poor health - both mental and physical - is undeniable, and post-covid I think we’re all agreed that this is more important than ever. Stress, anxiety, and burnout continue to rise, and the cost of neglecting these issues isn’t just personal; it’s organisational too. In 2024, mental health-related absences alone cost UK employers £51 billion. But these numbers only tell part of the story. For every day an employee is absent, there are countless others spent working unwell, quietly battling stress or fatigue, with productivity taking the hit.

This isn’t just about statistics. It’s about people. And it’s about culture. At Cosy Meerkat, we believe that workplaces should be where people feel supported through life’s ups and downs - not judged for taking a mental health day, or left to fend for themselves during a tough patch.

The good news is, small changes can make a big difference. Time and again, we’ve seen how rethinking communication strategies or introducing tailored wellbeing initiatives can lead to noticeable improvements in engagement and morale. The key is to listen to your people, act on their needs, their feedback, and build strategies that reflect your unique culture

We work with organisations to create strategies that are as unique as the teams they’re for. Whether it’s introducing more flexible sick leave policies, helping managers have honest, empathetic conversations, or building a comprehensive well-being program, our approach is practical, realistic, and rooted in understanding.

Every workplace is different, and so are the people within it. That’s why any strategy needs to start with one fundamental question: What do your employees need to thrive?

The cost of ignoring employee wellbeing

Neglecting employee health doesn't just affect individuals; it has tangible repercussions for organisations:

• Increased absenteeism - the number of mental health sick days taken nationwide grew by 6.6% between 2020 and 2022, rising from 13.7 million to 14.6 million.
  The Telegraph

• Presenteeism - employees working while unwell, known as presenteeism, remains a significant issue, leading to decreased productivity and increased errors.
  Deloitte

• Employee turnover - poor mental health has led to increased staff turnover, with employees leaving roles due to inadequate support and understanding from employers.
  Personnel Today.

Practical solutions for organisations

At Cosy Meerkat, we partner with organisations to enhance their employee experience through tailored support, aligning internal comms with wellbeing strategies:

• Flexible work policies - we help you define what flexibility means to your organisation and how you can use it to get the best out of your employees. We offer guidance and support around implementing adaptable work strategies to accommodate individual needs and encourage a healthy culture.

• Comprehensive wellbeing programmes - we develop initiatives that address physical health, mental well-being, and work-life balance through quick wins like hack packs and workshops to longer term benefit packages 

• Training and support - we offer workshops and resources to equip managers and employees with the tools to support each other's wellbeing effectively.

We really believe that your employees deserve your support, both in sickness and in health. If you want to discuss how we can help you invest in, empathise with and engage your employees - give us a call, OR better yet, book a FREE power hour with us - we’d love to help.