How this Cookbook can help

Businesses that prioritise mental health, foster team spirit and lead authentically lay the foundations for a more focused, resilient and engaged workforce.

We’ve defined five critical hurdles your staff could be facing – from disengagement to financial worries and lack of motivation. In every section you’ll find:

• Tips and guidance to get you started

• A selection of proven products, tools and services

• Additional ideas and resources to strengthen your support

“Managed well, you can shape a more connected, more loyal team who come back stronger, brighter, better.”

Recipe 1: Mental Health

Give your employees a helping hand with mental health

Why it matters

• Before March 2020 only 26 % of UK companies had a formal wellbeing programme; by 2021 that had risen to 40 %.

• 76 % of employees believe their employer should do more to protect mental health.

• 56 % of employers say they lack the training or guidance to act effectively.

Core actions

1. Mental Health First Aid Training – train employees to spot issues early and signpost support (courses via MHFA England).

2. Educate Managers – close the knowledge gap where expertise is most needed.

3. Blend training with digital tools – combine live experiences with apps that teach staff to tackle everyday stresses.

Tools that can help

Additional frameworks & resources

• Workplace Wellbeing Charter – national UK benchmark.

• BITC Wellbeing Workwell Model – evidence-based culture framework.

• Mind Wellness Action Plans – free templates for proactive support.

How Kaido can help

Four-week Kaido Wellbeing Challenges cover Mental Health, Nutrition, Sleep and Social Wellbeing. Colleagues learn mindfulness and stress-management techniques while benefiting from peer support.

Recipe 2: Pulse Surveys

Get in tune with workforce attitudes

Why now?

• 62 % of employees feel their relationship with their company changed during the pandemic; 32 % say it weakened, while 47 % of employers think it strengthened.

• Short, regular “temperature checks” give a truer picture than annual mega-surveys.

How to get started

1. Define your goals – only ask questions that serve them.

2. Keep it little and often – monthly or even weekly pulses.

3. Communicate before & after – explain purpose, share results, show action.

Recommended platforms

Culture Amp · Lattice · TINYpulse · Peakon

Complementary methods

• Focus groups – cross-team volunteers discuss survey findings.

• Exit & onboarding interviews – mine existing data for insights.

• Glassdoor / Indeed / TheJobCrowd – unfiltered external reviews.

How Kaido can help

Every Kaido Challenge ends with a three-part Impact Report (Engagement, Improvement, Impact) showing what motivates colleagues and how wellbeing improvements affect culture.

Recipe 3: Recognition & Reward

Let employees know you appreciate and understand them

Market context

• 91 % of employers recognise changing benefit expectations.

• 50 % of UK staff feel undervalued; 43 % cite invisibility as demotivating.

Best practices

• Run an employee benefits survey to confirm priorities.

• Communicate clearly – short, regular messages build uptake.

• Go digital – portals/apps for hybrid teams.

Providers to explore

Extra ideas

• Healthy snack deliveries – Office Pantry, Uber for Business, Snackcess.

• CIPD factsheet – fundamentals of setting up a benefits programme.

How Kaido can help

Kaido Challenges include Team Boosters such as Colleague Appreciation and Sharing is Caring to build a culture of gratitude.

Recipe 4: Team Building, Collaboration & Connection

Boost team spirit and colleague connections

Current landscape

Remote/hybrid work has eroded casual interactions; yet engaged teams are measurably more successful.

Modern team-building options

• Wildgoose – urban explorer adventures, hybrid escape rooms.

• Airbnb Experiences – global, virtual or in-person activities.

• The Team Building Company – blended formats.

Tips for success

1. Set clear objectives (communication, trust, conflict-resolution?).

2. Involve employees in choosing activities (use Survey Monkey, Google Forms, Typeform).

3. Collect feedback afterwards to refine.

“Traditional” ideas reinvented

• Steps Challenges – Big Team Challenge, YuMuuv, Virgin Pulse GO.

• Slack Donut Bot or Coffee Pals for MS Teams – “lunch roulette” pairings.

• Lunch-and-Learns, employee volunteering, job swapping.

How Kaido can help

Kaido’s inclusive Shared Experiences (from one-week mini-events to four-week Challenges) reinstate meaningful moments and connections, wherever colleagues are located.

Recipe 5: Life Changes

Support your team through significant life changes

Why act?

• 8.5 million adults in England may need mental-health support due to COVID-19.

• 2019/20: 17.9 million working days lost to mental ill-health (HSE).

First steps

• Find a format that fits – understand employee challenges anonymously.

• Prioritise privacy – external providers often increase trust.

• Address whole-person wellbeing – combine counselling with exercise, team activities, fun.

Solutions & providers

Popular EAP services

• 24/7 helpline, phone/online/face-to-face counselling

• CBT referrals, healthcare & substance-abuse support

• Legal/financial guidance, child & eldercare advice

How Kaido can help

Kaido helps you recruit and train Wellbeing & Culture Champions who strengthen connections, model behaviours and act as a peer-support network across the business.

Copyright

© 2023 Kaido Group Ltd ​The Workplace Wellbeing…