This reduction in wellbeing has been linked to workplace$-$related factors such as the switch to remote working and the increased risk of business fallure during the pandemic,

What are the red flags?

The concept of employee wellbeing can feel quite touchy$-$feely and nebulous. Practically, employers should gauge how their employees are doing across the following dimensions:

Emotional $-$ Attitudes and reactions to daily living;

Physical $-$ Ability to function with energy and make healthy choices;

Work life $-$ Positive work experiences that produce pride, satisfaction and value;

Social $-$ Capacity to thrive through meaningful connections and relationships;

Financial $-$ Ability to confidently manage financial life today, while preparing for the future and anything unexpected along the way.

A recent study found that the top three causes of poor wellbeing globally are stress $(67\%),$ burnout $(46\%)$ and anxiety $(37\%).$ What can employers do about it$?$

So$,$ my employees are stressed, burned out and anxious. What do I do about it$?$

The first step is to acknowledge the issue.

Showing you care and plan to do something about it is a great first step. relatively quick and practical next step is to subscribe to an employee assistance programme $($EAP$).$ These programmes typically provide $\frac{24}{7}$ access to skilled tele$-$counsellors who can help employees identify their stressors and develop plans to deal with them. They cover everything from psycho$-$social and trauma support to legal and financial guidance and facinitate referrals for in$-$person support as required in addition to providing immedate support to employees, who ptherwise have nowhere to turn, these programmes help employers get to the root of what's causing stress and anxiety in their organisations. There are a number of good EAP providers in SA$,$ including Reality Wellness, ICAS Financial health is a particular problem in South Africa, with many employees heavly indebted and unable to make ends meet at the end of the month. By signing up for a good EAP, employers enable their employees to access debt counselling and debt review when required. This can lead to debt being set aside or consolidated into lower cost alternatives. after debt, funeral cover is often an employee's biggest single expense. Funerals are an important part of South African culture and this $-$ along with emotional selling $-$ has led to many people having multiple, expensive funeral policies.

By helping their staff access better value life and funeral cover, employers can free up a lot of cash $-$ up to $80\%$ for their employees, thereby reducing their financial stress materially. They can do this by taking out a group policy that covers their staff or by getting a retail broker in to review each employee's policies and replace them with a and digital simplicity together in a single package.

$1,$ Analyse how the transition to remote working during the COVID pandemic as per case study information may have contributed to increased stress levels among employees. Additionally, reference the stress factors discussed in the module to support your analysis.

$2.$Evaluate the potential effectiveness of an Employee Assistance Programme $($EAP$)$ in addressing the mental health issues highlighted in the case study. Discuss the types of support such a programme should include to be effective.