About
About Mindspace
Mindspace is an initiative from ACE New Zealand, supported by the Business Leaders Health and Safety Forum.
An initiative by ACE New Zealand, and supported by the Business Leaders Health and Safety Forum, Mindspace gives professional consultancies in Aotearoa the tools and resources required for a mentally thriving industry.
Mental health in the workplace is becoming an increasingly urgent systemic issue. It impacts staff turnover, sickness, absenteeism and productivity. This is even more important as we face more and more global challenges which impact our wellbeing.
Mindspace vision
Our vision is a professional services consulting sector where our peoples’ mental health flourishes.
Mindspace objectives
Our goal is to help professional service consultancies provide mentally healthy workplaces through awareness, enablement, and accountability, so that:
- professional services consulting is renowned for its care and attention to the mental health and wellbeing of its people and is held up as an exemplar to other professions
- every professional services consultant feels mentally safe in their workplace, and can thrive
- young people are attracted to professional services consulting as they know they can bring their whole self to work and their mental health will be prioritised so they can flourish
Poor mental health and wellbeing in the workplace can make staff sick and cost businesses money.
Absenteeism from work-related stress has increased from 6.4% in 2016 to 22.2% in 2018
* According to UK research
50-80% of New Zealanders will experience mental distress and/or addiction in their lives
* 2018 Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry
69.6% reported an absence from work during the last 12 months due to ‘physical or mental health’ issues
* Respondents to the 2019 NZ Workplace Barometer
Employer obligations
As an employer, the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 requires organisations to manage risks to workers, including their mental health and wellbeing. Employers have a responsibility to ensure staff are working in a mentally safe work environment, and that they are taking action to reduce mental health risks in the workplace.
Benefits
Workplaces that are known to be a good place to work find it easier to recruit and retain the best workers.
Research commissioned by Xero and conducted by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research shows investing in employee wellbeing makes a business more profitable, in that for every dollar a small business owner invests in company-wide wellbeing initiatives for their staff, they can expect to see a return of up to 12 times within a year.
When people are healthy, they can reach their full potential, are more creative, innovative and solutions-focused, and are less likely to take time off, suffer injuries, or leave for another job or leave the profession/sector. Workplaces that are known as a good place to work also find it easier to recruit and retain the best workers.
