New research from MHFA (Mental Health First Aid) England – timed to coincide with its ‘My Whole Self’ campaign – has revealed the sad fact that only 17% of employees like going to work each day.
At the same time, one in ten employees say they never feel inspired by their job, and less than a quarter (23%) feel enthusiastic daily.
According to MHFA England, these figures highlight just how important it is for employers to get to know their people. By taking time to understand your workforce – who they are and what drives them – employers can build cultures where employees are engaged, valued and performing at their best.
The report also highlights that junior managers are more likely to be unhappy and demotivated at work compared to their colleagues. One in five (19%) junior managers say they don’t feel appreciated for the work they do and 22% say they never feel inspired by their job. Only 4% of junior managers say they are bursting with energy at work each day. If managers are feeling undervalued, what hope is there for their teams?
To empower workplaces to better support and motivate their people, MHFA England has published a new, free resource – My Whole Self: My plan for working well. It is a personal, proactive tool to help employees and managers identify what keeps them and their colleagues working well.
The plan can help to create psychological safety, one of the key drivers of motivation, engagement and performance. By fostering psychologically safe workplace cultures, wellbeing, morale and productivity will soar. Teams thrive when all voices are encouraged to speak up with ideas, questions, and concerns, or admit mistakes, without fear of judgement or consequence
The range of My Whole Self activities and resources have been developed for employers to use throughout the year, for leaders HR, managers and employees.
MHFA England is also encouraging workplaces to take part in My Whole Self Day on March 11th and start planning their activities now. You can access the new, free resource, as well as others, including the My Whole Self MOT and the My Whole Self: Managers’ Toolkit, to help build understanding of your employees’ lived experiences and identities and develop psychological safety.
MHFA England Chief Executive, Sarah McIntosh, said: “We all have days when we’re feeling less inspired and motivated at work, but MHFA England’s latest research shows that for many employees, especially junior managers, this is happening too often, and it is impacting our energy levels, wellbeing and performance at work.
“What can employers do to mitigate these worrying trends? It’s simple. Understanding your people is the key to motivation and wellbeing. My Whole Self offers employers the tools to create thriving workplaces and support employers on their journey to creating high performing and happier workforces. This investment in wellbeing isn’t just good for people—it’s good for business.”
Dr. Melissa Carr, Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the World of Work Institute, Henley Business School, adds:
“While organisations are striving to foster inclusive environments, there is still work to be done, particularly in supporting junior managers. This research highlights how junior managers are struggling to feel energised and engaged at work, which is critical for their wellbeing and motivation. Organisations and employers can make a difference through providing meaningful opportunities to have a voice and contribute to decision making, by offering inspiring and purpose-driven work and finally, ensuring access to wellbeing and mental health support.
“By addressing these needs and providing better support to junior managers, organisations can create workplaces where people not only thrive, but they feel valued and supported.”
To find out more about My Whole Self, click here.
