Services is a people business - their mental health must be a board level agenda.

No one could have predicted a world in which businesses moved, en masse, and seemingly overnight, to remote working models. The industry adapted quickly to change and there are many positives of this new way of working. However, whilst many businesses thrived, the mental and physical health of employees has been compromised. In an industry based around people, we need to step up and put people first before we reach a point of crisis.

It’s of extreme importance that mental health is at the forefront of all business agendas. According to MHFA, Mental ill health is responsible for 72 million working days lost and costs £34.9 billion each year. There is clearly a correlation between looking after employees’ mental wellbeing and an increase in commercial value across the business. Much more can be done when it comes to building psychologically safe cultures where people can remain in work and thrive despite experiencing mental ill health. It’s time to focus on win:win – for employees and employers.

As an industry, let’s work together to end the stigma surrounding mental health and put our people first. Understanding the issues is a good first step.