Accidents can happen, even in the safest work environments. People we care about may become sick and even die. Bad actors can bring violence into the workplace. Regional and world events can upset the equilibrium of work. The challenge for employers is to make the workplace as safe as possible for employees, build organisational and individual resilience, and be prepared to respond effectively when that safety is breached and employees' feelings of security and stability are shaken.

Frontline workers are critical to an organisation's success. They are the people who serve its customers, make its intended culture and image real and do the necessary work that keeps the organisation running. When stress causes frontline workers to underperform, present a disinterested or unhappy face to customers, take time off from work or leave their jobs, the organisation suffers.

With six years of participant data, a personalised six-session mindfulness programme– provided as part of a global employee assistance programme (EAP) – shows significant benefits in reducing employee stress and improving focus and sleep quality. Those positive benefits continued to improve in the six months following completion of the programme.

Mental health is critical to human health and wellbeing, yet mental health problems are more likely to go undiagnosed and untreated than physical health problems. With the pandemic, international conflict, increased financial stress from inflation, and concerns about food and fuel shortages, mental health is being challenged in new ways.

Organisational risk management has broad applications, from mitigating financial risk to recognising and managing risks in safety, quality, health, legal liability, and the organization's impact on the environment. Risks to and from an organisation's employees fall within the scope of risk management, typically with a focus on reducing the risk of accidents, injuries, or illness and putting controls in place to prevent employee theft or fraud. Workplace safety, for example, is commonly seen as part of risk management, and that concern extends to aspects of employee health, such as fatigue, that can impact accidents and error rates.