Across the past year, it’s been interesting to see key themes emerging around workplace culture, employee health and wellbeing. These are reflected in www.makeadifference.media’s 12 most-read pages and articles of 2024.
Menopause is still a hot topic, amongst other perennial favourites. But the power of listening (and hearing), what companies can do to support the government’s drive to shift to preventative healthcare, recognition of the need to create agile workplaces that meet diverse needs, and job crafting to support wellbeing, are fresh topics that have rung true with many.
A huge thank you to all of our readers and to everyone that has contributed and helped us with our mission to bring more and more employers to this crucial conversation.
Which articles have you found the most inspiring and useful and what topics would you like us to feature in 2025? Send us your ideas please to [email protected] or [email protected].
1. Top of our list for 2024 is Suzy Bashford’s feature focused on why listening is directly linked to Wellbeing and why we must not lose this skill in a sea of screens. Listening is a crucial skill for line managers that helps colleagues to thrive. This feature includes useful tips on understanding the difference between listening and hearing, the art of active listening and overcoming distractions.
2. Next in our list is the perennial favourite and clearly a topic that still resonates with many. Natalie Beresford, Former Detective Inspector and Chair, Menopause Action Group, Thames Valley Police, is brutally honest about how the menopause wreaked havoc on her career and her relationships, both at work and at home…
3. With more than a third (35%) of businesses reporting increasing numbers of existing permanent staff asking to move to temporary or contract positions², how do we ensure workplace health and wellbeing benefits are affordable and accessible for this non-traditional working community? This short article gets us thinking…
4. Employers are increasingly recognising that for colleagues to thrive, workspaces need to be inclusive and agile. This case study showcases how UK licensing company for recorded music PPL tuned in to diverse needs and individual preferences to create a welcome workplace that, taking acoustics into consideration, allows for both individual and collaborative work…
5. Next is the article announcing the launch of AXA Health’s 2024 UK mind health workplace report. Timed to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week, the report reveals that employees are three times more likely to flourish if they feel supported by their employer. The article identifies five ways that companies can prioritise mind health support in the workplace…
6. In our busy working world, there is one vital area that often goes unnoticed when it comes to employee health and wellbeing – hearing. Here, Nicola Miller reminds us why why ear health should stop being overlooked and looks at how it can be integrated into existing employee wellbeing packages…
7. To mark Disability History Awareness Month, we shone a spotlight on the practical actions employers can take to genuinely make those with disabilities feel welcome. This article outlines key insights from the Valuable 500’s whitepaper that reveals how successful disability-confident leaders are transforming their organisations.
8. The new Labour government’s first budget made crystal clear that the NHS is one of its top priorities, with Prime Minister Kier Starmer saying that we, collectively, need to move to a much more preventative approach to healthcare. This popular article looks at what employers can do to support the government’s mission to shift to preventative healthcare…
9. for wellbeing to thrive when teams are working remotely, it’s crucial that both leaders and team members know how to tame their egos. In this piece, consultant and author Salman Raza shares insights from his book, outlining some of the factors that can trigger ego and four practical steps to keep it in check.…
10. Here, Jade Leighton and Ben Channon ask: Are we overlooking a key component of workplace wellbeing: the office
environment itself? They argue that workspaces that allow employees to socialise, and ultimately that boost their mental health, physical wellbeing, and even their longevity are the new non-negotiable…
11. To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, our Features Editor, Suzy Bashford, asked industry thought leaders for their views on the biggest issues in employee health and wellbeing today, and their vision for the future of mental health at work. From the rise of AI to psychosocial safety, here’s a useful look back at what they said…
12. Last but not least, in 2024, job design and job crafting have risen closer to the top of the workplace health and wellbeing agenda. This feature looks at how, practically, you would start to create a two tier career progression path which caters for both those who want to manage people, and those who prefer to focus on their expertise without this…
