How Virgin Pulse supports the U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing

With many of us spending roughly 90,000 hours or a third of our life at work, it’s no surprise that our workplace plays a huge role in our physical and mental health and wellbeing.  

While a company’s workplace can have positive aspects—like an increase in employee trust, satisfaction, and engagement—it could also be emotionally draining and create challenges with work/life balance. 

According to recent studies: 

1. 76% of U.S. workers reported at least one symptom of a mental health condition. 
2. 84% of respondents said their workplace conditions had contributed to at least one mental health challenge. 
3. Half of full-time, U.S. workers reported mental health reasons being part of why they left a previous role. 
4. 81% of workers said that they will be looking for workplaces that support mental health in the future. 

Strong workplace health & wellbeing programs are imperative 

So, what does this mean for organizations? Prioritizing workplace health and wellbeing is no longer a nice-to-have for employers—and if you’re reading this, that means you already know this. 

Due to the current employee health and wellbeing climate and a dire need for employer wellbeing support, the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General developed a new framework that supports workplace mental health and wellbeing.  

Developed with the goal of sparking conversations and fostering change within an organization, the Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health & Well-Being is “centered on the worker’s voice and equity. These Five Essentials support workplaces as engines of well-being. Each Essential is grounded in two human needs, shared across industries and roles. Creating a plan to enact these practices can help strengthen the essentials of workplace wellbeing.” 

How Virgin Pulse can support the Five Essentials  

Don’t forget that Virgin Pulse offers the tools, resources, and support you need to incorporate and prioritize this framework within your organization.  

1. Protection from Harm: Creating the conditions for physical and psychological safety is a critical foundation for ensuring workplace mental health and wellbeing. This Essential rests on two human needs: safety and security.
   
   How Virgin Pulse supports safety and security
   
   • Coaching 
   • Culture Check 
   • Health Check 
   • Journeys
     
     
2. Connection and Community: Fostering positive social interactions and relationships in the workplace supports worker well-being. This Essential rests on two human needs: social support and belonging.
   
   How Virgin Pulse supports social support and belonging
   • Challenges
   • Shoutouts
   • Social Groups and Invite Family or Friends
   • Workplace Health & Wellbeing Team
     
     
3. Work-Life Harmony: Professional and personal roles can together, create work and non-work conflicts. The ability to integrate work and non-work demands, for all workers, rests on these human needs: autonomy and flexibility.
   
   How Virgin Pulse supports autonomy and flexibility
   • Coaching
   • Global Capabilities
   • Journeys
   • Virtual Events
     
     
4. Mattering at Work: People want to know that they matter to those around them and that their work matters. Knowing you matter has been shown to lower stress while feeling like you do not can raise the risk for depression. It’s important to foster gratitude and encourage others to express their gratitude too. This Essential rests on these human needs: dignity and meaning.
   
   How Virgin Pulse supports dignity and meaning
   • Shoutouts
   • Wellness Champions (Password: VirginPulseCRC!)
   • Workplace Health & Wellbeing Team
     
     
5. Opportunity for growth: When organizations create more opportunities for workers to accomplish goals based on their skills and growth, workers become more optimistic about their abilities and more enthusiastic about contributing to the organization. This Essential rests on the human needs of learning and a sense of accomplishment.
   
   How Virgin Pulse supports learning and accomplishment
   • Actionable and personalized insights
   • Client Community
   • Science-based motivation with Daily Cards, Healthy Habits, & more
   • Journeys 

Helping you prioritize workplace health & wellbeing 

We know that incorporating new strategies can be challenging. No worries, we’re here to help!  

Your Account Team is an extension of your team and can help guide you through this process. Virgin Pulse offers an array of options to help you enhance your workplace as you foster feelings of safety and security, social support and belonging, autonomy and flexibility, dignity and meaning, as well as learning and accomplishment. 

Want to learn more? Contact your Account Team to get started today.