Workplace wellbeing takes centre stage in new guidelines for employers

The Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HPDP) Directorate has issued new Guidelines for Employers aimed at helping organisations across Malta create healthier, more supportive workplaces.

The document addresses a wide range of workplace health topics, with this article focusing on mental health, healthy eating and physical activity, offering practical, evidence-based ways for companies to better support their staff.

Promoting mental health and wellbeing

With stress, burnout and anxiety increasingly affecting today’s workforce, the HPDP stresses that employers play a crucial role in supporting their teams’ mental health.

Among its recommendations are:

• Optimising workload and organisation, ensuring that job content, pace, and expectations are realistic.
• Introducing family-friendly measures such as flexible working hours and telework to support work-life balance.
• Providing accessible childcare options, easing the pressure on working parents.
• Maintaining transparent HR processes, which help build trust, reduce anxiety, and enhance motivation.
• Offering subsidised or free access to counselling services, making professional help easier to reach.
• Training HR staff in Mental Health First Aid, enabling them to recognise and respond to early signs of stress, anxiety, or burnout.

The Directorate notes that investing in mental health initiatives leads to improved engagement, lower absenteeism, and a stronger sense of belonging among staff,  outcomes that benefit both people and business performance.

Encouraging movement at work

The guidelines also urge employers to take active steps to reduce sedentary time and encourage more movement during the workday.

“The most successful examples of workplace physical interventions are the ones which allow physical activity to be embedded in the company’s culture and daily practices,” the HPDP notes.

Practical suggestions include standing desks, short movement breaks, walking meetings, and even simple desk stretches. Employers are encouraged to involve staff in designing these programmes and to have managers lead by example –  “acting as programme champions and participating themselves.”

Once a culture of physical activity is established, the Directorate recommends that organisations collaborate with their communities and use existing local resources to keep initiatives sustainable over time.

Creating a culture of healthy eating

Good nutrition is another key component of a healthy workplace, and the HPDP offers straightforward ways for employers to help their teams make better choices.

Suggested measures include:

• Gradually reducing access to unhealthy foods in canteens, vending machines, or during work events, instead “nudging” staff towards healthier options.
• Providing free healthy snacks, such as fruit.
• Ensuring drinking water is always available throughout the workplace.
• Sharing healthy recipes or food swap ideas to inspire nutritious eating habits.

The HPDP also reminds employers of its free support services, such as the Weight Management Programme and the Nutritional Helpline, which offers personalised dietary advice from professionals.

Beyond these core areas, the guidelines also touch on tobacco cessation, responsible approaches to alcohol and substance use, breastfeeding at work and improved hand hygiene, all aimed at reducing preventable illness and promoting a healthier workforce.

Ultimately, the Directorate’s message is clear: employers who prioritise wellbeing create more engaged, loyal and productive teams.