Newsletter #30 – January 2025

The Evolve Workplace Wellbeing toolkit launched in May 2022. As we progress towards our 3^rd birthday in May 2025, we have big plans for new research and knowledge exchange activities – but we can’t tell you about them yet! We hoped that January would bring the news that we could spread the news…. but not quite! Watch this space for opportunities…

·        We have a large and timely research project lined up awaiting the funder’s big announcement – we are excited to see which of you will work with us in 2025 on this project once it goes public.

·        We have plans for how to expand Evolve’s business-facing offering and are finalising details of the team and timescale for this. In the meanwhile – do email us if there are evidence-based resources you want but cannot currently find!

Fingers crossed to be able to spill the beans in February!

Those of you who joined us for Prof Roberta Fida’s Evolve Network session two years ago will be pleased to hear that she has continued working with an international team of researchers on why people behave unethically at work. The latest paper (co-authored with UEA colleague Dr Irene Skovgaard-Smith, pictured) focuses on what organisations (not just managers or co-workers) do which make their employees think it’s ok to act less ethically. While an eye-opening read, it is an academic paper focussed on stats and conceptual distinctions – so if you don’t fancy reading the whole thing yourself, my takeaway was that a code of conduct on its own cannot guarantee ethical employees. Of more wide-reaching importance is keeping a close eye on how you collectively treat your stakeholders – is it with authenticity and genuineness?

Open access paper: The suspension of morality in organisations: Conceptualising organisational moral disengagement and testing its role in relation to unethical behaviours and silence – Roberta Fida, Irene Skovgaard-Smith, Claudio Barbaranelli, Marinella Paciello, Rosalind Searle, Ivan Marzocchi, Matteo Ronchetti, 2024

Financial Wellbeing in the UK – what is it and what can we do to promote it? Dr Bryony Davies. 15^th January 2025 – 11:30 – 13:00.

Applications to join the Network are open and membership is free to practitioners with direct wellbeing responsibilities in organisations.

Read more about joining the network here: The Evolve Workplace Wellbeing Network – evolveworkplacewellbeing.org

The Good Health @ Work programme is a free initiative, funded by Suffolk County Council, designed to support businesses across Suffolk in improving workplace health and wellbeing. The programme offers guidance and support on reducing stress, increasing staff retention, boosting productivity, and implementing healthier initiatives that can help lower sickness rates and foster a happier, more engaged work culture. By participating, businesses can become Good Health at Work Ambassadors and work towards completing six key standards, earning a Bronze, Silver, or Gold award. To find out more information on ways you can improve your organisations health, wellbeing and happiness at work, please go to: https://goodhealthatwork.co.uk/award/

[Note – this is not an Evolve / UEA initiative]

In this section we compile other evidence-informed links to pieces on workplace wellbeing that we have found interesting. The following are not produced by the Evolve Workplace Wellbeing team.

·        Measuring eudaimonic components of subjective well-being | OECD

·        What is healthy home and hybrid working?

·        7 Workplace Challenges for 2025 – https://www.gallup.com/workplace/654329/workplace-challenges-2025.aspx