Action planning to achieve the standard
Standard 4: Wellbeing
Even if you now meet the wellbeing standard, keeping this up needs ongoing attention. It’s advisable to have an action plan in place for most, if not all, standards.
Effective communication is crucial for any successful action plan focused on employee wellbeing. Using SMART planning can help to address many important considerations which are explained in this section. SMART means Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
Clear communication is important to any successful action plan. This is especially true for plans about employee wellbeing.
You should share findings from the health check or monitoring. It is a good idea to highlight strengths and areas for improvement. Also, show commitment to fixing issues. You could think about creating an open environment where employees feel able to share concerns and feedback freely. This helps them take part in action plan discussions.
Clearly define objectives. Specify the action plan’s goals and describe:
Use inclusive language as it promotes a collective effort. A commitment to co-design is another important tool. It stresses the importance of creating solutions together. It shows how input from employees and stakeholders will shape the action plan.
Regular updates will ensure transparency and engagement with ongoing progress reports. Feedback mechanisms are a way for employees to contribute feedback and act on it.
Make sure that your organisation has easy access to information. It's important to develop good communication skills in your organisation. You could consider providing communication training, especially for leaders. This is a useful tool to support open dialogue.
You should celebrate achievements and progress. This encourages a positive organisational culture.
Cutting the high costs of poor wellbeing and maximising the benefits of a safe, supportive workplace demands evidence-based interventions at all levels. These should focus on:
You should consider if:
Effective action planning and meaningful change in wellbeing means targeting all organisational levels. To help you develop an action plan, here are some ideas to consider for each level.
Organisations should create a culture that:
Create a psychologically safe workplace that supports:
Develop strategies that promote self-care:
Encourage open communication by:
Health and Safety Executive. (2024). Work-related stress, anxiety or depression statistics in Great Britain.
Next page: Improve how you meet this standard