It's always the right time to create a state of OK-nomics!
Industry News
If you had a billboard that was stationed somewhere where many people would see it – what would your billboard say?
During one of our HRNZ SDG Week Webinars, when asked the above question, one of our panelists answered, “Just a simple background with the tagline – Call that friend.”
This answer triggers the question: When was the last time you connected with your friends, family, or loved ones?
This year, Mental Health Awareness Week took place from 26 September – 2 October with the theme “Reconnect - with the people and places that lift you up.”
How are Kiwis feeling at the moment?
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There has been a significant rise in poor mental health in Aotearoa – one in three Kiwis experience poor mental health and emotional wellbeing.
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37% of those interviewed in Skills Consulting Group’s Work Wellbeing research have experienced burnout themselves or have worked with someone who has.
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The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide.
These are not new headlines. These trends are something we are all well aware of, and they are driving the recent 'Quiet Quitting' trend.
Increasingly, we’re seeing workers looking to set healthier boundaries with regard to their work-life balance. Although it is not necessarily a bad thing to be a quiet quitter, the term itself has negative connotations. HRNZ is rebranding “Quiet Quitting” and the positive lessons we can take from this new trend – what are your thoughts on its new names?
It's time to create a state of OK-NOMICS
Ok-nomics is the concept that if staff feel valued, rewarded, and listened to, they will create a culture of success. Workplace satisfaction has proven to be higher for those who believe their organisation is committed to developing a wellbeing culture.
There are two different models used widely across New Zealand in workplaces, schools, and in communities that help us understand wellbeing - see below.
Te Whare Tapa Whā
Our wellbeing thrives when our taha wairua (spiritual), taha hinengaro (mental & emotional), taha tinana (physical), and taha whānau (family & social wellbeing) are in balance and are supported by our connection with the whenua (land).
Five Ways to Wellbeing
The Five Ways to Wellbeing are simple and proven actions that workplaces can introduce to help their people find balance, build resilience, and boost mental health and wellbeing.
Our podcast with Jazz Thornton
As part of this special week, HRNZ released a new HR Chats with Te Radar podcast, featuring International Mental Health Advocate Jazz Thornton. Listen to the episode 'Reconnect & the importance of connection for mental health and wellness' today!
HR Guide to Wellbeing
It is important to remember that a person’s wellbeing is defined by a number of different things, and that there is no one-size-fits-all approach in terms of wellbeing solutions. Learn more in our Basics guide. The Basics HR Guides are a members-only resource.
The role of Leadership and HR
Leadership and HR plays a vital role in cultivating the wellbeing conversation and solutions at work. We should learn to understand our employees – what motivates them and what may be the root cause if they struggle. Employees must be engaged in your organisation’s wellbeing strategy and practices.
- Help your employees reconnect with themselves
- Encourage them to reconnect with a friend, loved one, family, or special placed
- Create chances to reconnect with Community
- Remember the importance of reconnecting with nature
Inspriring Reconnection
Jimi Hunt, international speaker, author, and charity founder, has dedicated his life to helping others with their mental health, and to encouraging and inspiring connection.
From late November 2022 to March 2023, he is going to walk the entire length of New Zealand, Cape Reinga to Bluff, over 100 days on a journey he has titled Walking Home. His journey aims to encourage connection with the self, the land, and with each other. This adventure is all about taking action for mental health!
Let's get the HRNZ community involved... you could:
- Join Jimi for a section of the walk
- Share the love by spreading the word about this initiative
- Challenge yourself to create more connection in your own life
- Contribute monetarily to support this great adventure
- Get creative and support this great adventure in any way you know how!
You cannot pour from an empty cup
As a leader, or a HR professional, have you taken reasonable care of yourself?
Here are some quick tips to self-care for HR professionals:
- If you are struggling, don’t keep it all to yourself, reach out to your manager, family, and friends or get help.
- Be aware of your own wellbeing and limitations and set boundaries
- Make it a non-negotiable to take small breaks for rest throughout your day
- Avoid time confetti (where you shred useful blocks of time into tiny pieces) - get in flow on a project in your focused time so you can knock it out of the park!
- Celebrate the small stuff!
- Dial the right things up and down – remove social media or negative news during specific times and listen to inspiring TED talks, or podcasts instead
- Switch on your internal motivation – picture the satisfied feeling of completion.
Further reading
Check out some of these useful resources that can help you promote mental wellbeing:
- HRNZ The Basics - HR Guide to Wellbeing
- HRNZ Magazine - Spring 2022
- Mental Health Foundation
- Umbrella Wellbeing Articles
- Rebranding Quiet Quitting with HRNZ
- HR Chats with Te Radar podcast featuring Jazz Thornton
Helplines and Support
For information, support and resources visit the Mental Health Awareness Week website.
National helplines
Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor.
- Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP).
- Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO).
- Healthline – 0800 611 116
- Samaritans – 0800 726 666
Depression-specific helplines
- Depression Helpline – 0800 111 757 or free text 4202 (to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions).
- www.depression.org.nz – includes The Journal online help service.
- SPARX.org.nz – online e-therapy tool provided by the University of Auckland that helps young people learn skills to deal with feeling down, depressed or stressed.