Businesses need to have confidence their employees are happy and well, they are ok, they need to have confidence the employee assistance provider is meeting all their needs. A business owner might only stop and think about this question after something has happened – effectively after the horse has bolted. Try this simple seven step test before the horse bolts. … Read More

The glib answer – the glass is always full, half water and half air – is useful. The symbolism of half air strikes a chord when talking about the workplace. If your workplace has a large number of people who are not fully well but not unwell – you may have a half well workplace. Superficially you have a full … Read More

Starting a small business is continuous work – ask me I know!  Weekends blur into weekdays and you become accustomed to telling yourself you will stop and review where you are at as soon as you can get a break. But the risk of stopping keeps outweighing the benefit, so you don’t. Not stopping becomes easier the longer you don’t … Read More

Managers and leaders are accustomed to making decisions. Quick decisions, gut reactions, trusting your instinct but if you have put on a hat saying you can decide if a person will be ok, then what? Are you going home worried and wondering about an employee? What is the risk of making an assessment about whether someone is ok when they … Read More

I started ACT Curious EAP Services because I was seeing people struggle to keep their heads up when the world seemed determined to drown them. Businesses were losing their edge because employees weren’t happy. You can see the domino effect: when your employees are happy, something wonderful happens: There are more creative ideas – employees are more engaged and innovative. … Read More

The important thing is knowing whether your workplace is unhappy, and, knowing how to identify and address the causes. Tell tale signs of an unhappy workplace are staff withdrawing from social encounters, increasing their use of personal leave and more frequent resignations. One individual’s actions can undermine staff members’ ability to engage and enjoy work, they may feel isolated, like … Read More

Mindfulness is a skill you can learn and use every day, at any time. Very simply… Mindfulness is the ability to know what is happening in your mind without reacting to it. According to expert Jon Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness “is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally….It’s about noticing what is on your mind.” Countless … Read More

Being mindful of the present moment is key to staying connected to your inner self and maintaining a positive outlook. Improve your performance at work and boost your mental health with mindfulness. Here are seven tips to help you to be more mindful at work. Positive thoughts Start every morning with helpful, positive thoughts. Remember, you have a choice what … Read More