MindForward Alliance, the organisation transforming workplace mental wellbeing, has launched its newly updated Thriving At Work Framework. Developed in partnership with the World Wellbeing Movement, it provides a roadmap to help businesses to build workplaces that protect and support the mental health of their people.

The Framework launch comes at a critical time, when an estimated 12 billion working days are lost annually to depression and anxiety, while over half of employees have or are experiencing mental health challenges. This evidence-based Framework sets out ten workplace mental wellbeing standards that businesses should aim to meet. The Standards focus on areas such as leadership, people management, working conditions and accessible support, and will guide businesses to take action on workplace mental wellbeing at an organisational, team and individual level.

The updated Framework, which draws on the insights of over 100 businesses and latest academic research, includes:

• Examples of tried and tested workplace mental wellbeing interventions, business case studies and webinars
• Academic evidence of what interventions and approaches really do work
• Guidance on how to measure a) the mental wellbeing of employees and b) the impact of workplace mental wellbeing activity
• Support on how to ensure wellbeing strategies are inclusive
• The most recent evidence for why workplace mental wellbeing should be a priority for all businesses

Our new Thriving at Work Framework gives businesses a clear roadmap for workplace mental wellbeing in today’s post-pandemic world.

Alison Unsted, CEO of MindForward Alliance, commented: “Workplaces have a real opportunity to improve employee mental wellbeing—we know it’s good for people and it’s good for business. But, while we have seen more employers move to prioritise workplace mental wellbeing, we also know that many organisations are unsure about where to focus their energies and unclear about which initiatives actually work.”

“Our new Thriving at Work Framework gives businesses a clear roadmap for workplace mental wellbeing in today’s post-pandemic world. It provides businesses, at any stage of their mental wellbeing journey and in any geography, with the guidance and evidence they need to move forward with confidence.”

We are delighted to have collaborated with MindForward Alliance on a Framework which will help businesses across the world.

Sarah Cunningham, Managing Director, World Wellbeing Movement at the World Wellbeing Movement said: “What’s the secret to workplace wellbeing? It’s a question I am asked a lot, and the truth is there is no single answer or initiative that is the right answer. Rather it requires businesses to take a whole organisation approach, and we are delighted to have collaborated with MindForward Alliance on a Framework which will help businesses across the world do exactly that.”

Toni Graves, Global Head of Reward and Wellbeing at A&O Shearman, who used the previous version of the Framework to i inform their global approach to workplace mental wellbeing said: “MindForward Alliance’s Thriving at Work framework has become the foundation of our approach to employee wellbeing in our network of 40+ regional offices. The three pillars, and the detailed standards which underpin them, have helped to shape the minimum workplace mental health standards that we support our different regional offices to work towards. We’ve found the framework to be a practical and essential resource to guide every office – regardless of where they are in their wellbeing journey.”

This updated Framework is designed to support anyone within an organisation with responsibility for HR and wellbeing, and it is appropriate for SMEs through to large global enterprises. It can guide workplace mental health activity in single regions or across multiple geographies. Previous versions of MindForward Alliance’s Thriving At Work Framework have been applied by a wide range of businesses to support their workplace mental wellbeing strategy, including BDO, Linklaters, PwC and A&O Shearman.

Download the Thriving at Work Framework