Poor mental health costs SA economy R250bn a year in lost productivity – here’s how to support employee wellbeing
Could investing in employee health and wellbeing put year-end function budgets to better use?
South Africa's economy loses an estimated R250 billion annually due to poor employee mental health, with absenteeism and presenteeism stemming from stress and anxiety affecting 35% of the workforce. The Noakes Foundation, a South African non-profit organization, emphasizes the importance of workplace wellness beyond year-end functions and suggests providing employees with credible information and practical tools to make healthier decisions throughout the year.
Founder Professor Tim Noakes acknowledges that while year-end functions are crucial for recognition and relationship-building, they cannot compensate for unresolved workloads, ineffective support programs, or a stressful work culture. He advocates for allocating part of the year-end budget to experiences that combine recognition with health education and access to expert advice, ensuring the initiative caters to the specific needs of the organization's workforce and existing employee support programs.
Before allocating a wellness or year-end budget, employers should assess the specific workforce problem they aim to address, ensure inclusivity, plan follow-up resources, and determine how to measure the initiative's value. Examples of such experiences include the World Health Expo Johannesburg, which could be particularly beneficial for HR, healthcare, and employee-benefits teams seeking professional education.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
