Bupa provides timely assistance to enhance employee well-being

A workplace sandwich class is emerging in Hong Kong, with middle management facing increasing stress both at work and at home. This according to research as part of the 'Feel Better' Mental Health Campaign 2020, released by Bupa Hong Kong. The survey conducted in Q4 2020 covers over 1,200 workers, aged 18-54, across the SAR and provides insights into the evolving mental health needs and expectations in today's workplaces.

Stressed at work and at home

Amid growing demand for mental health support, the research revealed that the multiple roles played by middle management—as team leads, client-facing managers, supervisors and parent-breadwinners at home—have intensified the level of stress they experience, compared to other employees. Key areas investigated both in the workplace and at home included:

• colleagues or subordinates losing momentum
• pressure from senior management
• failing to fulfil client expectations due to lack of workforce
• children's academic results being affected by online classes
• longer working hours cutting into family time
• caring for children while working from home

Key findings

• Half of Hong Kong talent has experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression amid COVID-19.
• 73% of middle management expect action from employers, but only just over half say their companies provide any mental health support.
• Despite 90% of middle management acknowledging that stress was impacting their mental health, only 10% have sought professional counselling.
• Middle management is 10% more likely to experience anxiety or depression symptoms than general employees.
• 80% of respondents state that symptoms of depression have caused difficulties in their daily life.
• 20% of middle management executives admitted to having had suicidal thoughts.

Middle management is bearing heavier burdens than general employees, which has led to a call for employers to further enhance the resources and support provided to care for employee mental well-being. HR continues to utilise innovative solutions and palliatives for seemingly here-to-stay workplace COVID-19 stressors. It is more important than ever for HR to regularly check in with their talent teams to ensure they are OK, and if not, what help they might need.

Andrew Merrilees, General Manager, Bupa Hong Kong said, "Our Hong Kong employee mental health survey serves as a good reminder for all of us, whether the public or corporate management, that mental well-being must be prioritised both at the workplace and at home ... The responsibility now lies with employers to help improve health and well-being by supporting their employees' mental health needs."

Supporting Healthier Minds Programme

In response, Bupa has launched the 'Supporting Healthier Minds Programme' to help HR provide the necessary aid to employees. A wide selection of workshops and activities such as yoga, meditation and art jamming is available to assist general staff, in addition to courses set up specially to help middle managers and supervisors deal more effectively with employees' sub-optimal emotions amid the pandemic. Bupa has also introduced mental health first aid training and certification, which helps management identify employees' stress levels. This also helps point employees in the right direction if they might have more serious mental health issues. Similar workshops have also been organised for those in executive roles, including emotional management, stress management and work-life balance training.

Individual support & company recognition

To better support their employees, HR teams can take a proactive approach to mental health management. Bupa has introduced an extension of their mental health coverage to both group policies and individual plans. This approach helps ensure employees peace of mind when seeking professional counselling and access to support via an extensive mental health clinical network. With many working from home, employees can also leverage technology with virtual health application solutions that help them identify health risks, achieve health goals, access a 24-hour professional counselling hotline and access interactive wellness workshops to help reduce stress. All these measures combine to help create a healthier working environment by combating the root causes of severe workplace stress.

To help address such problems in the local Hong Kong community, Bupa has also initiated partnerships with local organisations including the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong, to empower people to take better care of their mental health. They are also empowering local companies to help play their part in this transformational journey via the MindCare Company Recognition Scheme, which will recognise companies that go the extra mile in prioritising their employees' mental well-being.

Promoting wellness with Bupa4Life

Employees are also increasingly having to work longer hours each day, often flopping down exhausted on the sofa in front of the box late into the night—lacking sufficient physical exercise. Combined with work-from-home arrangements, the need for homeschooling and generally getting 'Zoomed out', this phenomenon is further heightening the challenges of successfully balancing work and life.

To help HR and employees with these challenges, Bupa has launched the Bupa4Life wellness app which allows its members to complete an online health assessment, create and track wellness goals, read expert health information and more. Members will also earn rewards for their progress, including special offers and discounts. This, coupled with EAPs, interactive employee wellness courses and mental health first aid training to help employees reduce stress and create a healthier working environment.

HR can leverage these initiatives as part of their holistic efforts to help employees at all levels enhance their mental well-being, show they care and raise morale. In doing so, they will be better able to enhance retention and boost productivity across the organisation to boot.

Learn more about Bupa's Supporting Healthier Minds Programme:

https://www.bupa.com.hk/en/companies-employees/supporting-healthier-minds/

Supporting Healthier Minds Programme (video resources)

Bupa has launched a series of four videos that highlight four key initiatives under the Supporting Healthier Minds Programme:

Episode 1 (about Employee Assistance Programme)

Episode 2 (about Mental Health First Aid training)

Episode 3 (about Bupa4Life wellness app)

Episode 4 (about mental health interactive workshops)