Prospect secures well-being hour for Welsh government members

Welsh government workers are now entitled to a dedicated hour of well-being each week after successful negotiations carried out by Prospect.

By introducing the well-being hour, the Welsh government hopes to be able to work with staff to prevent stress and promote mental health.

The deal was struck – in partnership with civil service unions the PCS and FDA – as part of pay negotiations.

The well-being hour allows employees up to 60 minutes’ additional break a week to pursue activities that support their well-being.

The hour can be broken up and spread over the week in any pattern. For example, staff can take an extra 12 minutes break a day or two half-hour breaks a week.

The time can be added to lunch breaks or taken at the beginning or end of the day – as long as it is between the working hours of 7am and 7pm and contributes to well-being.

It chimes with other policies being implemented across the country by the government, including the Well-Being of Future Generations Act, a law seeking to improve the quality of life of people in Wales, and the Welsh Prosperity for All strategy, which is a plan that seeks to grow the economy inclusively, spread opportunity and also promote well-being.

Commitments in the strategy include: improving the health and well-being of workers, with a specific focus on mental health and musculoskeletal conditions, and delivering an in-work scheme with rapid access to early work-focussed interventions for a range of conditions.

Robin Bradfield, the Welsh Government branch secretary, said: “The well-being hour is an excellent opportunity for the Welsh government to take a lead and further demonstrate its commitment to the physical and mental health and well-being of our members and staff generally.”

Shan Morgan, permanent secretary to the Welsh government, said: “I see our new well-being hour as an innovative way of putting strategy into practice in a very practical way that I hope everyone will benefit from.”

And Prospect members do seem to be benefiting from the move. Members have told us that they’ve used it for nature walks, reading in the park, museum trips, meditation, cuddles with grandchildren, dog walking, crochet groups, choir practice, swimming, running and working out.