ESG & CSR

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) criteria evaluate how a company manages its relationship with employees, suppliers, customers, and local communities. The 'S' stands for social responsibility, which means looking after the people involved in your business. 

Your social responsibility describes how your business builds social capita, to then invest that capital for growth and social impact.

 Employee Wellbeing: A Business Success Indicator

Employee wellbeing, specifically mental wellbeing is recognised as a robust forward indicator of the risk profile and future success of business. Since it makes business sense, more companies are placing wellbeing on the board agenda and greater attention is now being placed on how wellbeing is a critical part of a businesses’ ESG and CSR strategy.

What affects us mentally, can also affect us physically. Many of us at some point in our lives will have a serious or life-changing physical illness. Both the illness, and the treatment for it, can affect the way we think and feel. The WHO published that mental health conditions affect a person's capacity to work productively and number of absences. Depression and Anxiety alone cost the global economy over £1 trillion a year.

In the UK, poor mental health costs UK businesses up to £45 billion every single year. As we spend a third of our lives at work, so our jobs have huge implications on the way people living with disabilities, mental and physical health challenges, and illnesses manage. Moreover, anyone is at risk of physical or mental illness, at any time.

We all have mental and physical health, so shouldn't it be everyone's business to ensure staff are supported?

 Cut quiet quitting with ESG and CSR initiatives

Quiet quitting is what happens when someone psychologically disengages from work. They may be physically present or logged into their computer, but they don't feel loyalty or motivation. Indeed, they are actively disengaged. They also might lack supportive bonds with their colleagues, managers, or their organisation.

Nearly six in 10 employees fell into this category.

Did you think that poor mental health was a huge drain on resources? Well, when combined with actively disengaged employees, low engagement costs the global economy £6.8 trillion pounds or 9% of global GDP.

 There’s a social solution to disengagement

Businesses with engaged workers generate 23% higher profits.

Smart, forward-thinking employers are investing in staff wellbeing. Companies that do invest in wellbeing save money in the long run. On average, for every £1 spent on supporting their people’s mental health, employers get £5 back on their investment in reduced presenteeism, absenteeism, and staff turnover.

Our team at Rural Mental Health Matters empowers you to lean into ESG and CSR agendas to improve employee wellbeing and act on social and environmental issues simultaneously.

 Are you helping or hindering wellbeing?

Not only do you need to consider preventing quiet quitting for your bottom line and aiding those with known mental health disorders, you need to consider how your company might even be contributing to worsening mental health: Engagement has 3.8 times the influence on employee stress, that their work location does. How people feel about their job has more to do with their relationship with their team and manager than being remote or being on-site.

For this reason, many employees are at work but looking to leave. Around 85% of employees are not engaged in their current workplace, according to latest research from the State of the Global Workplace 2023 Report. Yet 71% of CEO's, leaders say that employee engagement, is critical to their company's success. 

Low engagement => low productivity => decrease in loyalty

Ultimately, this could cost you your business! Can you afford not to take notice?

Rural Mental Health Matters are a team of experts that ensure companies are doing much more than the minimum for business survival. We’ll help you to exceed social targets as part of ESG and CSR laws and regulations.

Research continues into the many factors that influence wellbeing in the workplace, so we stay up-to-date on the most recent legal updates, and share our unique and proactive “whole self” with your company, so your teams are cared for as much  as your business.

Contact RMHM today and let's get started!