Often dubbed the “most depressing day of the year”, the third Monday in January is known as Blue Monday. At Safewell, we prefer the alternative Brew Monday — a simple but powerful prompt to check in with colleagues and encourage connection. A cuppa, a conversation, and knowing where to get help can all support better mental wellbeing during the darker months.
It’s important to remember that employers also have a legal responsibility to support mental health at work. Work-related stress should be managed just like any other workplace risk. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance on mental health, work, and the workplace, explaining how stress can affect employees and what practical steps employers should take to assess and control these risks. You can read the full guidance here.
Small, proactive actions can make a big difference. Whether it’s creating opportunities for open conversation, checking in earlier rather than later, or signposting support, managers can help foster a safer, healthier, and more connected workplace.
Top 5 Practical Ways Managers Can Support Mental Wellbeing
Check in regularly – even a quick five-minute chat can help staff feel seen and supported.
Encourage small social moments – Brew Monday is a great excuse for a conversation over a cup of tea. Casual connection matters.
Signpost support – Make sure your team knows about employee assistance programs, mental health resources, or counselling options.
Be flexible where possible – adjust workloads, offer hybrid working, or allow small breaks to help manage stress.
Lead by example – model healthy work habits, talk openly about wellbeing, and show it’s OK to seek help.
By making wellbeing a regular part of workplace culture, managers can help their teams feel supported, connected, and equipped to navigate the challenges of the year ahead.
We have worked with Safewell for many years and are retained clients, so we have developed an excellent working relationship with the team. However, this really came into its own when Covid 19 appeared.
As a Plumbing and Heating business, we were able to carry on working during the lockdown but only for responding to emergencies. We were obviously very concerned about the health and safety of our employees and before we even had chance to get in touch with Safewell, they had emailed us offering their assistance. It is hard to put down on paper how that made us feel - we like everyone else felt totally at sea, which way to turn, what to do? But Safewell were there guiding, supporting and being totally brilliant. Their attention to detail is very impressive and reassuring and we feel able to ask lots of questions without feeling silly.
During the pandemic Safewell helped us to write risk assessments, safety procedures and protocols. They kept in touch regularly, issuing new guidance as soon as it appeared and checking in with us. They held group Q&A sessions over Zoom which were helpful, and knowing other businesses were facing the same challenges and having the opportunity to discuss issues was invaluable. Their help during the preparation for a full return to work was brilliant, they enabled us to be fully prepared and feel in control, and when we had our first case of Covid within the team, because we had planned our response it felt ok.
I think our team felt very reassured by our robust approach and that our office was Covid secure. We are extremely grateful to all the team at Safewell
