bWell bitesized - Getting your finances in shape - LifeWork Checker
The New Year is traditionally where we look to make a new start. But while we often think about rebooting our physical and mental health, our financial health can be overlooked. Here’s how to help employees get their finances in shape with the LifeWork Checker.
bWell bitesized - Getting your finances in shape - LifeWork Checker
The New Year is traditionally where we look to make a new start. But while we often think about rebooting our physical and mental health – getting fitter, thinner or reducing stress – our financial health can be overlooked.
But as our Christmas credit card spending drops through our doors, there’s no better time to get our finances in good shape.
This financial checker from Lifeworks gives your staff an overview of how money management can affect their stress, relationships – and their future. And provides tailored guidance on what to work on and how to improve their financial wellbeing. https://unumgb.lifeworks.com/assessments**
** LifeWorks is available to Unum Group Income Protection, Critical Illness and Life insurance customers – sign up and individual staff log-ins required. For more info on everything LifeWorks has to offer, visit https://info.unum.co.uk/LifeWorks
bWell bitesized – Getting our finances in shape - LifeWork Perks
As the January cold bites our extremities, post-Christmas bills can also take a significant chunk out of our budgets. To help you get more bang for your buck in 2021 whether you’re shopping online or out and about, take a look at LifeWorks Perks.
bWell bitesized – Getting our finances in shape - LifeWork Perks
As the January cold bites our extremities, post-Christmas bills can also take a significant chunk out of our budgets. To help get more bang for our buck in 2021, whether you’re shopping online or out and about, take a look at LifeWorks Perks.
LifeWorks Perks offers access to thousands of exclusive discounts and the ability to save money on everyday essentials and important events, including online cashback, discounted gift cards, cinema discounts, in-store coupons and more.**
** LifeWorks is available to Unum Group Income Protection, Critical Illness and Life insurance customers – sign up and individual staff log-ins required. For more info on everything LifeWorks has to offer, visit https://info.unum.co.uk/LifeWorks
U-First webinars
We’re kicking off 2021 with a focus on employee wellbeing, and helping you to give your people the best possible start to the new year. January will see us deliver a suite of our U-First online webinars, designed especially for employees.
U-First webinars
We’re kicking off 2021 with a focus on employee wellbeing, and helping you to give your people the best possible start to the new year.
January will see us deliver a suite of our U-First online webinars, designed especially for employees, beginning with ‘Resilience’ on 12th Jan, followed by ‘Movement matters’ on the 19th and ‘Lifestyle management’ on the 26th.
U-First webinar - Resilience
Join us for our first U-First online webinar of 2021 – Resilience. Designed especially for employees, the webinar looks at how people might feel when under stress, and explores hints, tips and strategies to improve resilience.
Join us for our first U-First online webinar of 2021 – Resilience
Designed especially for employees, the webinar looks at how people might feel when under stress, and explores hints, tips and strategies to improve resilience and suggests steps to improve wellbeing both at home and at work.
These sessions are all about you and how making some small changes to our approach to wellbeing at work and home can make all the difference to our mood, mind and energy.
U-First webinar - Movement matters
Join us for our second U-First online webinar for January – Movement matters. Designed especially for employees, the webinar looks at why movement matters, and covers common musculoskeletal disorders and their causes, risk factors and how to set up a workstation.
U-First webinar - Movement matters
Join us at 11am for our second U-First online webinar for January – Movement matters.
Designed especially for employees, the webinar looks at why movement matters, and covers common musculoskeletal disorders and their causes, understanding risk factors, how to set up a workstation (including cars) and signposts to other useful resources.
These sessions are all about you and how making some small changes to our approach to wellbeing at work and home can make all the difference to our mood, mind and energy.
U-First webinar - Lifestyle management
Join us at 11am for the third of our January U-First online webinars – Lifestyle management. Designed especially for employees, the webinar looks at encouraging small but sustainable changes to our lifestyle to improve health and wellbeing.
U-First webinar - Lifestyle management
Join us at 11am for the third of our January U-First online webinars – Lifestyle management
Designed especially for employees, the webinar looks at encouraging small but sustainable changes to our lifestyle to improve health and wellbeing, and the 6 pillars of wellbeing – nutrition and hydration; rest and sleep, movement; energy management; stress management and work.
You’ll leave the session having made a commitment to an achievable and impactful lifestyle change.
These sessions are all about you and how making some small changes to our approach to wellbeing at work and home can make all the difference to our mood, mind and energy.
How to plan mental wellbeing
How do you plan the management of employees’ mental wellbeing for the year ahead? 2020 has tested us like nothing in a generation, businesses have conflicting priorities, and there can be so much information to sift through. We look at how Unum can help.
How to plan mental wellbeing
Where do you start when planning how best to manage employees’ mental wellbeing for the year ahead? 2020 has tested us like nothing in a generation, businesses have conflicting priorities, and there can be so much information to sift through.
‘How to plan mental wellbeing’ looks at how the tools and support from Unum can provide start-to-finish wellbeing, mental health and absence management support – as part and parcel of your Group Income Protection policy.
bWell bitesized
A monthly resource for you and your people to help support your wellbeing journey…
bWell bitesized
Even small changes to our lifestyles can go a long way to helping to reduce our risk of cancer. Share these 5 top tips with your employees.
The bWell podcast - Lifestyle and cancer
The bWell Podcast speaks to Reframe about ways to lower the risk of cancer via positive lifestyle choices...In association with Reframe
In association with 
The bWell podcast - Lifestyle and cancer
Half of people born after 1960s will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime* with 125,000 people of working age now receiving a cancer diagnosis every year. However, around 1 in 3 cases of the most common cancers could be prevented**, and there are ways you can lower your risk and improve your general health.
In this podcast, we are joined by our partners Reframe to discuss which lifestyle changes we could make to reduce our risk of cancer.
https://thebwellpodcast.podbean.com/e/episode-14-lifestyle-and-cancer/
*Cancer Risk Statistics - Cancer Research UK
**Cancer Risk Statistics - Cancer Research UK
Cancer in the workplace webinar
The chances are we, or someone we know has had to deal with a cancer diagnosis. In recognition of World Cancer Day, our ‘Cancer in the workplace’ webinar – in partnership with Maggie’s – is open to everyone and looks at what we can do to support someone with cancer, the support available to anyone with a cancer diagnosis, changes we can make to our lifestyle to reduce our risk of cancer with a cancer diagnosis to stay at, or return to work.
Cancer in the workplace webinar with Maggie's Centres - Thursday 4th February at 11am
In 2015, an estimated 2.5 million people were living with cancer in the UK – a figure that’s predicted to rise to 4 million by 2030*.
It’s highly likely that we, or someone we know has had to deal with a cancer diagnosis.
In recognition of World Cancer Day, our ‘Cancer in the workplace’ webinar – in partnership with Maggie’s – is open to everyone and looks at what we can do to support someone with cancer, the support available to anyone with a cancer diagnosis – including from Maggie’s and Unum – and changes we can make to our lifestyle to reduce our risk of cancer.
The bWell podcast - How to manage and improve sleep
In the latest bWell Podcast, we discuss the benefits of sleep and the importance of a good night's rest... In association with Wellbeing 24
The bWell podcast - How to manage and improve sleep
Many of us could benefit from improved sleep quality. While getting adequate rest underpins our health and wellbeing, health conditions such as increased stress and anxiety can be the result of disturbed sleep patterns. Conversely, poor mental health could impact our ability to get a good night’s rest. In our latest podcast, we explore the benefits of sleeping well and share tips to help ensure you’re not tossing and turning in the wee small hours.
Listen to the latest episode by clicking play below or click here to check out all episodes of The bWell podcast.
Diversity, inclusion and equality webinar
International Women’s Day is a hugely important day, not just for women, but for all of us. While the world’s made large strides towards striking a balance between genders, a survey by the National Centre for Social Research revealed that a shocking 28% of respondents still believe ‘women should stay at home’.Our ‘Diversity, inclusion and equality’ webinar is open to all staff and every gender, and designed to shine a spotlight on what we can all do to close the gender gap.
Diversity, inclusion and equality webinar -
Monday 8th of March at 11am
International Women’s Day is a hugely important day, not just for women, but for all of us. While the world’s made large strides towards striking a balance between genders, a survey by the National Centre for Social Research revealed that a shocking 28% of respondents still believe ‘women should stay at home’.
The World Economic Forum states we are still 99 years away from equality. However successful diversity and inclusion programs and initiatives can work to create a more inclusive workplace.
Our ‘Diversity, inclusion and equality’ webinar is open to all staff and every gender, and designed to shine a spotlight on what we can all do to close the gender gap.
Women and wellbeing
In our ‘Women and wellbeing’ article, we look at why women have more health and wellbeing concerns than men, sickness absence triggers, the workplace taboo of the menopause and how employees can help women’s workplace wellbeing.
Women and wellbeing
In our ‘Women and wellbeing’ article, we look at why women have more health and wellbeing concerns than men, sickness absence triggers, the workplace taboo of the menopause and how employees can help women’s workplace wellbeing.
bWell bitesized
April is stress awareness month. So how can you best support your staff and provide access to the right tools to help them manage their own response to stress?
bWell bitesized
April is stress awareness month – the ideal time to think about how you can best support your staff and provide access to the right tools to help them manage their own response to stress.
Unum’s Group Income Protection customers have access to LifeWorks’ Stress care programme, plus a range of valuable wellbeing resources.*
And don’t forget to remind your staff of the ‘Power of 4’ with LifeWorks’ ‘4 ways to take care of yourself’ infographic.
*When you sign up to LifeWorks, your employees can get individualised log ins, enabling them to enhance their own wellbeing when they need it. Sign up to LifeWorks at https://info.unum.co.uk/LifeWorks.
World Health Day
The annual World Heath Day aims to create awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization.
World Health Day
The annual World Heath Day aims to create awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization.
Webinar – Supporting employees with long-term conditions
Long term conditions can affect anyone. While conditions such as inflammatory bowel diseases, migraines and even MS may be considered minor when compared to heart conditions, cancer or stroke, most are still limiting and debilitating.
Webinar - Supporting employees with long-term conditions 7th April 11am
Long term conditions can affect anyone and include among others: bi-polar, inflammatory bowel diseases, migraines and multiple sclerosis. While some may be considered minor when compared to heart conditions, cancer or stroke, most are still limiting and debilitating.
Aimed at HR and line managers, this session will explore:
- The characteristics of a long-term condition
- How businesses can support someone with a long-term condition
- Potential legal implications
- How to have the conversations and make the right decisions
- Reviewing your employee’s progress
- Managing relapses
A pocketful of stress – the impact of financial ill-health
The relationship between stress and finances can be direct, difficult and debilitating. In ‘A pocketful of stress’, we’ll explore the impact finances can have on our mental wellbeing and what can be done to help.
A pocketful of stress – the impact of financial ill-health
The relationship between stress and finances can be direct, difficult and debilitating. In ‘A pocketful of stress’, we’ll explore the impact finances can have on our mental wellbeing, look at ways to restore our financial health and how you can support your staff.
Coming soon...
bWell bitesized
With spring well and truly upon us, LifeWorks’ podcast can help get your staff walking.
bWell bitesized
With spring well and truly upon us, get your staff walking! Share LifeWorks’ walking podcast with your employees and help them rediscover the physical, social and emotional benefits of walking.*
*Available to Unum’s Group Income Protection customers. When you sign up to LifeWorks, your employees can get individualised log ins, enabling them to enhance their own wellbeing when they need it. Sign up to LifeWorks at https://info.unum.co.uk/LifeWorks.
Mental health in the workplace in a post-covid world
As we start to look at returning to something like normal, we look at the role the line manager has to play in a post-covid world.
Webinars - Mental health in the workplace in a post-covid world 18th May at 11am
The coronavirus pandemic has tested our mental health like nothing in generations. As the vaccine takes effect and we start to look at returning to something like normal, we look at the role of the line manager in a post-covid world.
Coming soon...
Guide to creating a mental health policy
Organisations can vary considerably in how they tackle mental health, but only 33%of employers have a written policy or guidance, and less than half have a proactive wellbeing strategy1. Our guide to creating a mental health policy is designed to help you create a mental health policy, and suggests six elements to underpin any approach, strategy or policy related to mental health.
Guide to creating a mental health policy
Organisations can vary considerably in how they tackle mental health, but only 33% of employers have a written policy or guidance, and less than half of employers have a proactive wellbeing strategy1.
Our guide to creating a mental health policy is designed to help you create a mental health policy – based on Mental Health at Work’s 2019 commitment and Stephenson Farmer’s mental health standards from ‘Thriving at work’ – and suggests six elements to underpin any approach, strategy or policy related to mental health.
Read our guide to creating a mental health policy
1. CIPD heath and wellbeing report 2020
bWell bitesized
Eating healthily is one of the most important things you can do for your body. Lifeworks helps you understand the basics of a healthy diet and looks at ways to make better nutrition a part of everyday life*.
bWell bitesized
Eating healthily is one of the most important things you can do for your body. A balanced diet can help you maintain a healthy weight, avoid disease, and feel more energetic. Lifeworks helps you understand the basics of a healthy diet and looks at ways to make better nutrition a part of everyday life*.
https://unumgb.lifeworks.com/life/employee-assistance/articles/health/health-habits/diet-and-nutrition/healthy-nutrition
*Available to Unum’s Group Income Protection customers. When you sign up to LifeWorks, your employees can get individualised log ins, enabling them to enhance their own wellbeing when they need it. Sign up to LifeWorks at https://info.unum.co.uk/LifeWorks.
bWell bitesized - Eating well and planning healthy meals
Maintaining a balanced diet and eating healthily while coping with challenges can be difficult. LifeWorks’ Certified Health Education Specialist, Wendy McLaughlin answers six questions on how you can plan healthy meals – even in difficult circumstances.
bWell bitesized - Eating well and planning healthy meals
Maintaining a balanced diet and eating healthily while coping with challenges can be difficult. In this interview, LifeWorks’ Certified Health Education Specialist, Wendy McLaughlin answers six questions on how you can plan healthy meals – even while facing difficult circumstances. She also provides a wealth of healthy eating hacks to keep you from slipping into bad food habits.*
https://unumgb.lifeworks.com/life/employee-assistance/articles/health/health-habits/diet-and-nutrition/eating-well_planning-healthy-meals
*Available to Unum’s Group Income Protection customers. When you sign up to LifeWorks, your employees can get individualised log ins, enabling them to enhance their own wellbeing when they need it. Sign up to LifeWorks at https://info.unum.co.uk/LifeWorks.
Webinar - Men's health
Gender-related health issues are rarely talked about at work. ‘Men’s health’ aims to increase understanding about common gender-specific health conditions, encourage communication, and educate line managers on how to support staff.
Webinar - Men's health 15th June at 11am
Gender-related health issues are rarely talked about at work, often due to stigma or embarrassment. This webinar has been developed to increase understanding about common gender-specific health conditions, encourage communication, and educate line managers on how they can support their staff.
We’ll look at:
• Gender-related health issues
• Common conditions, and the physical, mental and emotional impact
• Burnout and mental health
• What you can do as an organisation
• Unconscious bias
Who cares for the carers?
According to Carers UK, 5 million people in the UK are juggling caring responsibilities with work - that's 1 in 7 of the workforce. We look at the value of carers to the workplace, how you can support people with caring responsibilities, and help them to stay in the workplace.
Who cares for the carers?
According to Carers UK, 5 million people in the UK are juggling caring responsibilities with work - that's 1 in 7 of the workforce. However, the significant demands of caring mean that 600 people give up work every day to care for an older or disabled relative .
In ‘Who cares for the carers? we look at the value of carers to the workplace, how to create a carers policy, how you can support those with caring responsibilities, and help them stay in the workplace.
1. https://www.carersuk.org/news-and-campaigns/press-releases/facts-and-figures
Protecting mental health in the post-Covid 19 workplace
The events of the past few months have affected everyone. With the impact on our mental health still unclear, how can employers help prevent mental ill-health in the post-Covid workplace?
Protecting mental health in the post-Covid 19 workplace
Whether employees have been working from home, furloughed or key workers supporting others and keeping the country going, everyone has faced their own challenges.
But as we come to terms with a new way of life, the impact on our mental health is still unclear. So how can employers help prevent mental ill-health in the post-Covid workplace?
Cancer in the Workplace
The number of people with cancer is on the rise. Find out how you can help employees with cancer stay at or return to work…
Cancer in the Workplace
Cancer in the workplace webinar with Maggie's Centres - Thursday 6th August at 11am
In 2015, an estimated 2.5 million people were living with cancer in the UK – a figure that’s predicted to rise to 4 million by 2030*. With an ever-increasing need to provide expert support and guidance to employers and employees affected by cancer, our webinar with Maggie’s covers:
• Diagnosed employees emotional, physical and psychological needs.
• Approaching situations with knowledge, empathy and understanding.
• Creating the right framework to support and manage employees with cancer.
To register, please complete the form below.
bWell bitesized
A monthly resource for you and your people to help support your wellbeing journey…
bWell bitesized
Our bereavement guide was created to support both employees and employers through the unique, and often challenging, journey through grief and bereavement. If you have a bereavement policy, and especially if you don’t, perhaps ensure you have this guide readily available for line managers and staff during what can be an emotional and difficult time for everyone.
How employers can tackle grief in the post-Covid 19 workplace
With over 46,000 people lost to coronavirus, many of us are likely to have lost friends or family or know someone who has. So what can employers do to help manage grief and bereavement in the post-Covid workplace?
How employers can tackle grief in the post-Covid 19 workplace
Since March, news of thousands of deaths has filled the nation’s living room. Instead of being swept under the carpet, death has become hard to avoid in this global pandemic, emerging from the shadows to dominate social media and general conversation.
With over 46,000 people lost to coronavirus at the time of writing, many of us are likely to have lost friends or family or know someone who has. So what can employers do to help manage grief and bereavement in the post-Covid workplace?
Bereavement in the workplace
Bereavement can often be one of the last taboos in the workplace where employers are unsure of what to say, do. or of their responsibilities...
Following Grief Awareness Day on August 30th, we are delighted to partner with Child Bereavement UK to create this session in recognition of National Grief Awareness Day. This joint session will look at the general implications of bereavement – including mental health – for the individual, for colleagues and for the organisation. We’ll also cover the importance of respecting diversity in bereavement, and how companies can support bereaved employees and customers.
Cancer with Maggie's
The number of people with cancer is on the rise. Find out how you can help employees with cancer stay at or return to work…
Cancer in the workplace webinar with Maggie's Centres - Thursday 24th September at 11am
In 2015, an estimated 2.5 million people were living with cancer in the UK – a figure that’s predicted to rise to 4 million by 2030*. With an ever-increasing need to provide expert support and guidance to employers and employees affected by cancer, our webinar with Maggie’s covers:
- Diagnosed employees emotional, physical and psychological needs.
- Approaching situations with knowledge, empathy and understanding.
- Creating the right framework to support and manage employees with cancer.
The bWell podcast - Lifestyle and cancer
The bWell Podcast speaks to Reframe about ways to lower the risk of cancer via positive lifestyle choices...
In association with 
The bWell podcast - Lifestyle and cancer
Half of people born after 1960s will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime* with 125,000 people of working age now receiving a cancer diagnosis every year. However, around 1 in 3 cases of the most common cancers could be prevented**, and there are ways you can lower your risk and improve your general health. In this podcast, we are joined by our partners Reframe to discuss which lifestyle changes we could make to reduce our risk of cancer.
*Cancer Risk Statistics - Cancer Research UK
**Cancer Risk Statistics - Cancer Research UK
Why employers need to become more suicide aware
Suicide is the leading cause of death for both men and women aged 20 to 34. These are people likely to be in employment – managers, colleagues, friends – making this an issue that, sadly, many employers and employees will have to deal with.
Why employers need to become more suicide aware
Suicide is the leading cause of death for both men and women aged 20 to 34. These are people likely to be in employment – managers, colleagues, friends – making this an issue that, sadly, many employers and employees will have to deal with.
When employers are considering how to best support the health and wellbeing of their employees through this challenging period, this aspect shouldn’t be overlooked.
Remote working and the risks to physical health
Since March, millions more employees have experienced the highs and lows of working at home. While benefits may include a potentially better work/life balance, among others, remote working also poses dangers to employees’ physical health that may be unexpected or go unnoticed.
Remote working and the risks to physical health
Since March, millions more employees have experienced the highs and lows of working at home. While benefits may include avoiding tedious commutes, a better work/life balance and more autonomy over their working day, the strain on employees’ mental health is already high on the radar. However, remote working also poses dangers to employees’ physical health that may be unexpected or go unnoticed.
Here are some common hazards employees face while working from home and handy tips on how to prevent them.
Cancer with Maggie's
The number of people with cancer is on the rise. Find out how you can help employees with cancer stay at or return to work…
In association with 
Cancer in the workplace webinar with Maggie's Centres - Thursday 22nd October at 11am
In 2015, an estimated 2.5 million people were living with cancer in the UK – a figure that’s predicted to rise to 4 million by 2030*. With an ever-increasing need to provide expert support and guidance to employers and employees affected by cancer, our webinar with Maggie’s covers:
- Diagnosed employees emotional, physical and psychological needs.
- Approaching situations with knowledge, empathy and understanding.
- Creating the right framework to support and manage employees with cancer.
Why it’s time to focus on oral health
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of our daily lives – how we work, socialise and how we keep healthy. But one area that’s been pushed to the sidelines is our oral health. With most dentists now open to patients and November being Mouth Cancer Action Month, read ‘Why it’s time to focus on oral health’.
Why it’s time to focus on oral health
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of our daily lives – how we work, socialise and how we keep healthy. Much of the latter has focused on maintaining good mental wellbeing and keeping physically active. But one area that’s been pushed to the sidelines is our oral health.
With dentists closed from late March to early June, millions of check-ups were missed, leaving people nursing minor twinges that could’ve since developed into something more serious. With most dentists now open to patients – albeit with much-changed procedures – and November being Mouth Cancer Action Month, it’s time for us to stop keeping our mouths shut about oral health. Read ‘Why it’s time to focus on oral health’.
Cancer in the Workplace webinar
The number of people with cancer is on the rise. Find out how you can help employees with cancer stay at or return to work…
In association with
Cancer in the workplace webinar with Maggie's Centres - Thursday 26th November 10am.
In 2015, an estimated 2.5 million people were living with cancer in the UK – a figure that’s predicted to rise to 4 million by 2030*. With an ever-increasing need to provide expert support and guidance to employers and employees affected by cancer, our webinar with Maggie’s covers:
• Diagnosed employees emotional, physical and psychological needs.
• Approaching situations with knowledge, empathy and understanding.
• Creating the right framework to support and manage employees with cancer.