Workplace Wellbeing Day 2022 and Beyond - Ideas and Resources for Sharing and Learning
Ireland’s National Workplace Wellbeing Day is fast approaching on Friday April 29th 2022. Now in its eight year, the day itself has served to raise the importance of employee wellbeing across a wide variety of industries since its inception. As always, I encourage organisations to recognise and celebrate the day in a way that best supports their colleagues while at the same time ensuring they do not fall into the trap of celebrating wellbeing on only one day of the year and merely using the day as a PR exercise!
What’s New for 2022
Workplace Wellbeing Ireland are organising a free 5K Walk & Talk in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on the morning of Workplace Wellbeing Day to encourage as many people as possible to get outdoors and to connect on the day. You can find all the details through this link. There’ll be porridge afterwards and more conversation and fresh air than you can shake a stick at. If this turns out to be a success then we may need to organise something similar in other locations in 2023?
Less is Often More
A wellbeing intervention doesn’t have to be something that takes up time, in fact it can be something that actually gives some time back. For example, it could be a ‘no meeting Friday’, a ‘finish early Friday’ or, if it’s within your remit, a half day or a full day off for all colleagues!
I appreciate a lot of these initiatives will not be possible for many organisations but I wanted to throw it out there to get you thinking. After the few years we’ve all had, giving some time back to colleagues could be the ideal way to recognise Workplace Wellbeing Day in 2022.
What If We Really Want to do Something?
Having said ALL OF THAT, I am still being asked about ideas and suggestions for the day so if you do want to provide something for your colleagues then I’ve done all the heavy lifting for you by coming up with some suggestions below. These interventions don’t necessarily need to take place on Workplace Wellbeing Day; you could use the day to share some of these resources or to launch what you’re planning for the weeks and months ahead.
I’ve included a ‘healthy’ mix of free and paid resources. The podcasts and webinars listed are recorded so you can share with your colleagues at any time.
Now as promised, here's the list of ideas and suggestions.
Resources for Everyone
Live Event: Our 5K Walk & Talk on the morning of April 29th
Webinar: All the financial wellbeing resources you need in one place
Signpost: Share information about your EAP programme (if you have one) and any other wellbeing resources your colleagues have access to
Podcast: Busting meditation and mindfulness myths with Dermot Whelan
Programme: Work Happy has a programme of events for the entire week
Webinar: Using the Breath to Activate Your Brain for Success with Patrick McKeown
Resources for Parents
Course: Compassionate Self-Care for Working Parents with Dr. Malie Coyne
Podcast: Parenting from Work with Dr. Colman Noctor
Webinar: Why Self-Care is Vital with Dr. Malie Coyne
Physical Wellbeing Ideas
Webinar: All the motivation you need to get active with Professor Niall Moyna
Classes: Physical activity workouts for everyone: parkHIIT @ Work
Workshop: ‘Physical Activity Goal Setting’ is an online or onsite interactive workshop designed to empower attendees to take control of their own physical wellbeing
Gift Idea: A delicious fresh fruit and snack pack delivered by The Fruit People
Course: Feeding Your Potential online nutrition programme
DIY Step Challenge - download a ready to go spreadsheet
Stand more: Bag yourself a sit stand desk from my friends at AJ Products
Podcast: How Nutrition Can Enable High-Performance with Kate McDaid
Get Outdoors: Encourage colleagues to walk, run or cycle 5K on Workplace Wellbeing Day in their own time and to share a photo of them out and about
Demo: Book a live healthy cooking demo (or cook-along) with Fiona’s Food for Life
Mental Wellbeing Ideas
Podcast: Let’s start a conversation about mental health with Barbara Brennan
Workshop: ‘The 5 Ways to Wellbeing’ is an online or onsite interactive workshop designed to introduce attendees to an internationally recognised and practical framework for supporting positive mental wellbeing
Empower your colleagues: Managing Stress at Work to Improve Wellbeing with Dr. Jennifer Hynes
Suicide Awareness: Take Ohana’s free ZERO suicide training and gain the skills to save a life
HSE Programme: Minding Your Wellbeing
Workshop: ‘Mental Skills’ with Brian Pennie will provide attendees with practical tools to help overcome challenges and embrace change
Pledge: The See Change Workplace Pledge
The Importance of Routines: How to Boost Energy, Increase Productivity and Eliminate Procrastination with Brian Pennie
Podcast: Improving Digital Wellbeing with Chris Flack of UnPlug
For Wellbeing Leaders (Current and Aspiring)
Webinar: 8 Step Framework for sustainable wellbeing programme design and implementation.
Training: The 8 Steps to Embed a Culture of Health self-paced online course is open for new students and is the best long-term strategy for embedding a culture of health at your workplace.
Podcast: The Open Doors Initiative and DEI Strategies with Siobhan Sweeney
Webinar: All you need to know about ISO45003, the first global standard for psychological health and safety in the workplace
Workshop: ‘Sustainable Workplace Wellbeing’ is an online or onsite workshop designed to introduce senior leaders and wellbeing champions to an 8 Step Framework for developing, implementing and sustaining a wellbeing programme at their workplace
For Workplace Champions
Training: Wellbeing should be a shared value across the organisation and not owned by one person or team. The Wellbeing Champion training empowers organisations to create or upskill a team of employees to work alongside the wellbeing leader in the development, delivery and improvement of wellbeing within their workplace.
Webinar: Mental Health Ally Programme at Accenture Ireland - Case Study
Workshop: ‘Emotional / Personal Effectiveness’. Brian Pennie will work with attendees to develop a strong values-based system that will guide us towards our true north, helping to make decisions and take actions towards the most important aspects of our lives
Best of luck with your Workplace Wellbeing Day plans. Let me know if I can offer any further advice or help signpost you to other people or resources.
Yours in health,
Brian
ABOUT THE HOST
Brian Crooke is a wellbeing educator, speaker and adviser, empowering Irish organisations to promote and sustain wellbeing within their workplaces.
He is the founder of The Work Well Institute and the Workplace Wellbeing Ireland community and is Course Director of the Postgraduate Certificate in Workplace Wellness at Tangent, Trinity College Dublin. He is the host of The Work Well Podcast.
In his spare time, Brian is bringing free resistance training to every county and community in Ireland through his parkHIIT social enterprise.
THE WORK WELL COMMUNITY
The Work Well Institute - Our online education hub.
Our Workshops - Bespoke and tailored options available.
The Work Well Forum - Our private LinkedIn group.
The Work Well Podcast - Conversations with thought leaders.
The Work Well Webinars - Our back catalogue of live panel discussions and expert led presentations.
Our Services - Talks, workshops and bespoke programmes.
The Work Well Newsletter - community news and updates.
parkHIIT @ Work - Tailored resistance training workouts: online or on site.