Wellness Coaching as a Positive Solution for Fighting Stress and Burnout for Workers

Guest article written by Emma Carpenter, Manager of Operations, 12 Weeks to Wellness, 12 Weeks INC

Des initiatives de bien-être rentables sont nécessaires pour combattre le stress au travail cet automne

Combating compromised health and well-being due to this COVID-19 working environment will need to be the focus of many employers this fall if they wish to keep working their way effectively through this uncertain climate. Pre-pandemic, many Canadian workers sought a flexible schedule that would allow for good work–life integration, but just over half of workers had this option (Graham Lowe Group). Over the last few months, for those that have been working from home in long-term isolation, we have seen employees report an increase in stress and more anxiety, loneliness and burnout.

Emerging trends are showing that the new burnout is driven by uncertainty and fear of job loss; an inevitable blurring of work/life balance and isolation. Many are putting in longer hours to make themselves ‘indispensable’ in an attempt to secure their position. Many are also discovering that working with colleagues and clients via screens adds a greater strain and is much more tiring than face-to-face interactions, which we have evolved to be more accustomed to.

Les employeurs vont probablement constater l'émergence d'un problème de blessures professionnelles subies à la maison également, comme des tensions chroniques dans le dos, le cou ou les épaules. Au bureau, nous avons des chaises de travail, des bureaux réglables et toutes les choses que les employeurs fournissent pour assurer la sécurité, la résilience et le bon fonctionnement des travailleurs. Mais avec cette pandémie, les gens travaillent à leur table de cuisine, ou assis sur le canapé, penchés sur leur ordinateur portable dans des positions inconfortables pendant des heures. Les dirigeants ne peuvent pas supposer que les travailleurs disposent d'un équipement adéquat à la maison et, au minimum, les entreprises devraient avoir une politique de base en matière de santé et de sécurité pour le travail à domicile qui traite de l'ergonomie des postes de travail.

Early findings from University of Toronto suggest that this COVID climate is also resulting in a number of serious negative health outcomes for women, specifically younger and mid-career women, triggered by a variety of individual, organizational, and systems-level factors. Female health-care workers – who comprise 80 per cent of Canada’s health workforce – are at increased risk for stress, burnout and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several measures were identified that can positively impact female health-care worker well-being, including provision of rest areas for sleep and recovery, self-help resources, support, and training programs to improve safety and resiliency.

In a recent coaching pilot at a Local Health Authority, 12 Weeks to Wellness, a wellness and health coaching provider realized a significant reduction in perceived stress and increased well-being after 3-6 months of telephonic coaching. Download the white paper for full story. What makes coaching so effective in reducing stress and improving well-being? It is a partnership between the coach and client, honoring that each client is an expert on his or her life. Wellness coaching addresses multiple dimensions of well-being and seeks to develop self-directed, lasting, positive changes, aligned with the client’s values and goals. Coaching has also been shown to be effective for people managing a variety of health conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. It is important to note that coaches take privacy very seriously, and they have a professional code of ethics.

Unlike health fads that come and go, health coaching has strong evidence behind it backing its effectiveness for improving health and well-being. Providing cost effective measures that support employee well-being will have a positive impact on businesses starting to recover– boosting people’s productivity, engagement, positivity, resiliency, connection and loyalty, as well as reducing the risks of costly absenteeism caused by stress and various musculoskeletal injuries. Through the upcoming months organizations are going to need a full arsenal of options to combat the strains of COVID-19. Wellness and health coaching are key ingredients towards giving companies and their employees the best chance for success.

A propos de l'auteur

Emma has worked with many private sector and public organizations in Canada and Sweden assisting organizations by guiding them through critical steps for building supportive workplaces, designing and setting up workplace health programs.

Emma a déménagé au Canada en 2005 et s'est jointe à Homewood Health (anciennement Wilson Banwell Human Solutions) à titre de première conseillère en mieux-être. Chez Homewood, Emma a ensuite assumé le rôle de directrice des services de promotion de la santé pour les produits et services de bien-être organisationnel en pleine croissance de Homewood. Emma est directrice des opérations chez 12 Weeks to Wellness, où elle supervise les opérations quotidiennes des coachs en bien-être et en santé.