Wellbeing policy templates

Fostering employee wellbeing is good for people and the organisation.

Promoting wellbeing can help prevent stress and create positive working environments where individuals and organisations can thrive.

Good health and wellbeing can be a core enabler of employee engagement and organisational performance.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also pushed employee health and wellbeing to the top of the business agenda over the past few years.

Here are some key UK employment legislation considerations to keep in mind when implementing wellbeing policies:

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: This legislation places a duty on employers to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of their employees. Wellbeing policies must be implemented in compliance with this legislation and ensure that the physical and mental health of employees is protected.
• The Equality Act 2010: This legislation prohibits discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics such as age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. Wellbeing policies must ensure that all employees are treated fairly and that there is no discrimination on the basis of any protected characteristic.
• The Working Time Regulations 1998: This legislation sets out the maximum number of hours that employees can work each week and provides for rest breaks and annual leave. Wellbeing policies must ensure that employees are not overworked and that they are provided with sufficient rest breaks and annual leave.
• The Mental Health Act 1983: This legislation provides for the care and treatment of people with mental health conditions. Wellbeing policies must ensure that employees with mental health conditions are supported and that reasonable adjustments are made to the workplace to accommodate their needs.
• The Disability Discrimination Act 1995: This legislation makes it illegal for employers to discriminate against employees with disabilities. Wellbeing policies must ensure that employees with disabilities are provided with reasonable adjustments to support their needs.
• The GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018: These regulations set out requirements for data protection and privacy. Wellbeing policies must ensure that all employee data is handled securely and with respect for their privacy rights.