Occupational Health and Wellbeing Challenges and Opportunities in Theory and Practice

This book bridges the gap between theory and practice, incorporating real-world case studies to show how organisations and leaders can adapt after the global unrest and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and more recent challenges. Drawing from expert opinions across the world to highlight the current challenges and opportunities within this sector, it explores how these ideas can be effectively applied within the workplace. The book covers a wealth of topical and relevant themes that include defining wellbeing in a modern world, toxic leadership, mental health first aid, the application of positive psychology, and what the ‘new normal’ might look like. Together, these contributions offer a rich look into how Occupational Health and Wellbeing practices have developed, struggled and thrived. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many organisations to adapt fast and became the most significant accelerator in recent times for embracing, enhancing and improving employee health and wellbeing. Understanding this, the book demonstrates how Occupational Health and Wellbeing continues to rise on the corporate agenda as a key contributor to employee satisfaction, engagement and retention, increased financial stability and overall organisational success. The book is essential reading for senior executives, leaders and professionals involved in occupational health, human resources, health, safety and wellbeing, people support, people development, employee assistance, counselling as well as students within organisational and occupational psychology.

Part One: The Challenges of Occupational Health 1. Defining the Landscape, What is Occupational Health and What are the Key Challenges in Modern Workplaces related to Wellbeing? Andrew Kinder, Rick Hughes & Cary Cooper 2. Managing Wellbeing: New, and Old, Challenges for Organisations Gordon Tinline and Shaun Davis 3. Are Organisations inherently Toxic? An Exploration of Executive Toxicity, Workplace Bullying and Destructive Workplace Cultures Daniela Pauknerova, Katerina Zabrodska and Michael Walton 4. Triggering Toxic Leadership: Risks to Employee Wellbeing when the Leader’s Intentions are Blocked, Denied or Thwarted Michael Walton 5. Miscarriage: The Next Challenge for Contemporary Workplaces Alyssa Grocutt and Julian Barling Part Two: The Business Imperatives to Manage Wellbeing in the Workplace Effectively 6. The Machine Can See You Now: Considering the use of Technology and Innovation to Extend Capacity and Capability to Deliver Health and Wellbeing Support Steve Boorman 7. The Business Case for Managing Wellbeing Effectively within the Healthcare Sector within the UK: A Review of What Works Zofia Bajorek and Stephen Bevan 8. Mental Health: A Twenty-First Century Imperative for Workplace Wellbeing James Campbell Quick, Joanne H. Gavin, and David J. Gavin Part Three: New Understandings on How to Boost the Occupational Health and Wellbeing of Employees 9. Difference, Dissent, Discussion and Disagreement: Diversity Means Nothing unless we Create Cultures that are Safe for All of These, Not from Them Simon Fanshawe 10. Employee Assistance Programs in a Changing World: The Australasian Experience Robert Compton and John McManus 11. The New Kid on The Block: A Review of Mental Health First Aid as a Workplace Mental Health Intervention Susannah Robertson-Hart 12. Positive Psychology Interventions and Employee Wellbeing: When and for Whom are they Effective? Deirdre O’Shea, Annekatrin Hoppe, Alexandra Michel, M. Gloria González-Morales and Anna Steidle Part Four: New Opportunities in Employee Wellbeing Support - Organisational Responses 13. Coping in The New World: The Challenges of The ‘New Normal’ of Work and Life Philip Dewe 14. Workplace Mediation and the Links to Occupational Health and Wellbeing Tony Buon and Renu Raj 15. Engagement Through Disruption: Rhetoric, Reality and ‘Reimagining’ Wellbeing at Work Tony Dundon, Dierdre O’Shea, Jean McCarthy and Marilena Pagoni

Andrew Kinder is a Chartered Counselling and Chartered Occupational Psychologist and is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS). He is currently Professional Head of Mental Health Services at Optima Health (part of the Marlowe Group). Rick Hughes is a Wellbeing Consultant, Aberdeen, Scotland, having been Head of Service of the University of Aberdeen Counselling Service and a Lead Advisor for the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP). Cary L. Cooper is 50th Anniversary Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health at the ALLIANCE Manchester Business School, Manchester, UK, and is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society.