Take the 5% Pledge and support mental health in the workplace

Cigna Healthcare has long recognised the importance of mental health at work – that’s why mental health support is a core pillar of our Whole Health vision – but in recent years our Global 360 Well-being surveys have shown that stress, burnout and issues with work/life balance have been on the rise within the workforce. By taking the 5% Pledge, you’re committing to building a positive and supportive workplace, one where it's okay not to be okay.

We recommend an executive leader should take the 5% Pledge to highlight the importance of mental health and well-being in the workplace and to highlight the value the business places on employee mental health. The conversation about mental health in the workplace can then begin. The intention is that the communication starts at the top and expands throughout the business involving everyone, at all levels.

Taking the Pledge couldn’t be easier – simply fill out the very brief form that can be found on this page, it’ll only take a minute.

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There are many ways to demonstrate support:

• Announce your commitment in your staff meetings and communications such as newsletters
• Post on social channels that you’ve signed the Pledge, maybe include a few words telling others why mental health in the workplace is important to you. Link to the Pledge site and use the hashtag #Pledge5Percent
• Share mental health at work initiatives that you’ve implemented within your organisation to inspire and encourage other leaders. Remember to use the hashtag #Pledge5Percent

Taking the 5% Pledge will mean you are joining other senior leaders by dedicating 5% of your annual working hours towards improving mental health in the workplace support.

The first step in erasing stigma around mental health in the workplace is opening the dialogue with your colleagues. We recommend having an executive leader sign the Pledge to demonstrate the importance of this issue. As you start the conversation in your workplace, you might like to connect with your HR leaders to understand what benefits and support your company currently provides for employees and where there might be gaps.

By signing the 5% Pledge you will redefine your relationship with your employees and help shape the future of mental health at work.

The outcomes will vary from business to business, however organisations may benefit by seeing an improvement in attendance and reduced presenteeism and even a higher uptake in working benefits such as holidays and reward schemes. Your participation could help with attraction and retention of staff and boost employee engagement. It could also enhance your reputation as an employer and help to fulfil your duty of care as an employer. In addition, you will have the opportunity of working alongside other senior leaders who face similar issues in the workplace to share best practices to help create safe and supportive working environments. Read this article to learn more: 5 Benefits of the 5% Pledge

Absolutely! Everyone within an organisation has a responsibility towards creating a culture that positively impacts mental and physical health. We suggest that you start with a small group of people representing your c-suite and an HR representative to begin with, and then other individuals can join the movement. A joint mindset towards reducing the stigma surrounding mental health is preferable to just one department trying to make a difference.

For a person working 42 hours per week, when they take the 5% Pledge they’d be committing to allocating 2 hours per week, or one day per month, to understanding and supporting mental health in the workplace.