London’s small businesses have called on mayoral candidates to make health and wellbeing a priority during the next four years.
Voters in the capital go the polls this May to elect a new Mayor and Assembly, a contest which polls suggest incumbent Sadiq Khan will win comfortably.
According to data released by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) London Region, almost all (97%) small businesses believe that wellbeing is “important” to the success of their business.
However many are unaware of London initiatives to support wellbeing, with nearly 7 in 10 (69%) having not heard of either the London Growth Hub or the Mayor’s Good Work Standard.
In addition to supporting employers, the FSB is calling on the next Mayor to support self-employed workers.
Michael Lassman, London Regional Chair, Federation of Small Businesses, said: “I have attended a vast amount of networking groups in 2019 and a clear message from a significant number of business owners that I speak too is how isolating at times it can feel.
“We must support the self-employed, employers and employees within small businesses to be best prepared with tools to support their physical and mental wellbeing – this will provide significant benefits to the London economy”
Schnell Hanson, FSB member of London Wellbeing Special Interest Group, added: “Wellness at work is something that all small businesses should think about.
“If you are an employer who is only looking at the physical aspect of wellness, you are missing key motivators in your employees’ health.
“Wellness accounts for all ways in which an employees’ health could be affected and it is vital that employers should take into account the mental, financial and social sides of their wellbeing”
