Equipping managers to support their teams

Workplace wellbeing is becoming a top priority for organisations today with clear impacts on employee engagement, productivity, and long-term business success.

How can managers – already balancing demanding workloads – play a meaningful role in supporting wellbeing?

This question was explored in a recent workshop facilitated by Genevieve Tracy, Executive Coach and Ibec KeepWell Mark Consultant. The session focused on giving managers the confidence and tools to:

• Recognise when colleagues may be struggling
• Initiative supportive conversations
• Foster positive work environments

What is Workplace Wellbeing?
At its simplest, workplace wellbeing describes how people feel about their jobs and their day-to-day experience of work. When organisations actively promote wellbeing through policies, programmes, and leadership practices, they create conditions where people can truly thrive.
The workplace is a powerful setting for health promotion. It directly shapes the physical, mental, social, and economic wellbeing of employees, and by extension, their families and communities.

Why It Matters
Poor mental health costs Irish businesses an estimated at €8.2 billion annually, driven by absenteeism, unemployment, and reduced productivity. On a global scale, depression and anxiety cost the economy US$1 trillion each year. Conversely, when wellbeing is prioritised, organisations benefit. Research confirms this is a driver of positive business outcomes, including improved productivity, retention and organisational performance.

The Manager’s Role
Managers are not expected to be counsellors or medical professionals. Instead, their true value lies in early intervention- spotting signs of distress and signposting employees to the right supports.

Early warning signs may include:

• Decline in performance or punctuality
• Persistent fatigue or loss of humour
• Noticeable changes in behaviour, such as irritability or withdrawal
• Increased absence or reliance on alcohol and cigarettes

Burnout is a growing concern, often caused by unclear expectations, poor work-life balance, or lack of support. It not only harms individuals but also undermines team and organisational performance.

Having Supportive Conversations
Addressing wellbeing challenges often means having difficult conversations. Managers should aim to be prepared, compassionate, and clear.

Key tips include:

• Choose the right time and private setting
• Ask open-ended questions and listen actively
• Share specific examples of observed changes
• Signpost to available supports, such as Employee Assistance Programmes
• Reassure employees about confidentiality
• The goal is not to “fix” problems but to create space where employees feel heard and supported.

Building a Positive Culture
Beyond individual conversations, managers shape the broader environment in which their teams operate. Positive workplace interactions - marked by trust, respect, and engagement - boost job satisfaction and reduce turnover. Leading by example is essential. Managers who respect boundaries around work hours, take their own holidays, and prioritise open communication send a strong and powerful message that wellbeing matters. Trust, inclusivity, and balance are the foundations of a culture where both employees and organisations thrive.

Key Takeaways

• Workplace wellbeing is directly tied to business performance.
• Managers are not expected to solve problems but should act early and signpost supports.
• Building trust and positive workplace culture is as important as addressing problems when they arise.

Ibec can meet your organisation wherever you are on your wellbeing journey.

Workplace Wellbeing Consulting:
Expert support to design wellbeing strategies and programmes aligned with your business goals and workforce needs

The KeepWell Mark:
Ireland’s leading wellbeing accreditation, supporting best practice through an evidence-based structured framework

Learning & Development:
Practical, high-impact training programmes to help build internal capability and skills in wellbeing, leadership, culture and more

Visit our website to learn more or book a discovery call here.