Mindful Employer

By Employers, For EmployersMindful Employer Logo

As an employer, you will know that time time lost due to stress, anxiety, depression etc represents a considerable cost to your organisation. In fact, mental health problems amongst staff cost UK businesses £26 billion annually.

The MINDFUL EMPLOYER® initiative aims to help employers safeguard the mental health of their staff and save the time and cost associated with sickness absence. Led and supported by employers, MINDFUL EMPLOYER® is aimed at increasing awareness of mental health at work and providing support for businesses in recruiting and retaining staff.

Stress, depression and anxiety are the cause of more working days lost than any other work-related illness. Sick pay reduces profits. Covering absent workers adds more pressure. Loss of valued and talented people costs more than money.

With the right support, people with mental health issues can and do stay in work. With the right support, you can continue to deliver your business.

Being a MINDFUL EMPLOYER®

  • Shows others and your own staff that you are a good employer
  • Expresses your corporate social responsibility
  • Reduces recruitment and training costs
  • Helps towards complying with legislation (e.g. DDA &  HSE)
  • Reduces sickness levels
  • Enhances customer service
  • Improves productivity
  • Makes you more attractive to people with mental health issues and others
  • Helps you retain staff who have experienced discrimination in the past
  • Makes yours a healthier workplace

Charter for Employers

Over 390,000 people work for employers who have signed a Charter for Employers who are Positive About Mental Health.

The Charter is just one part of the MINDFUL EMPLOYER® initiative. It's a voluntary agreement seeking to support employers in working within the spirit of its positive approach. The Charter is about working towards the principles of it and not the immediate fulfilment of them – signing up is a step along a journey, not the end of it.

Any employer can sign the Charter - small, medium or large, public, private or voluntary sector, anywhere in the UK. You can be involved in MINDFUL EMPLOYER without signing the Charter but over 300 employers have made this tangible commitment to the wellbeing of their staff. A full list of current signatories can be found on the MINDFUL EMPLOYER website. (See links to the right of this page.)