When employers look to identify what may be the cause of work-related pressures, they naturally focus on work-life balance, team dynamics and even harassment.

Many employers appreciate difficulties at home such as relationships, bereavements and other problems will affect how an employee feels at work too, but we rarely see them considering ‘body image’ perceptions as a cause for staff wellbeing.

Last year alone, 1 in 3 adults said they were so stressed about their body image that they felt overwhelmed and unable to cope.

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (13th-19th May 2019 #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek) focuses on body image, and CEO of The Wellbeing Project, Sam Fuller, gives her view on how this transcends into wellbeing at work:

“Body image can affect people of all ages and have a direct impact on both their mental and financial wellbeing. There is often a perceived or real expectation of how someone should look and dress both at work and socially within friendship groups, creating real pressure to fit the mould.

“We know that wellbeing support is on the radar for many employers, but we’d like to see this pushed to the forefront and made actionable. Mental health will not be disappearing, so enabling employees to develop and build their own resilience and wellbeing is key to how they respond to these rising worries and pressures. Those employers who embrace this approach will reap the rewards with a workforce that is more engaged, connected, happy and focused.”