Being at work doesn't mean you're present

Cape Town - In a country where absenteeism costs the economy between R12bn and R16bn annually, an employee’s physical and mental health has become a major focus.

Occupational Care South Africa said over 15% of staff were absent on any given day, while two out of three employees who failed to show up for work weren’t physically ill.

“But the question is not only how many people are absent from work, but also how few people are present at work,” Adrian Jacobs told Fin24 at the launch of Mindful Revolution.

“A recent poll showed that 33% felt dead-ended, 42% felt burnt out and 88% did not feel strongly energised by their work.”

Companies around the world have started to realise that physical wellbeing was only one aspect of a healthy employee and that mind/heart practises were just as important to ensure a healthy workforce.

It was within this context that a company that is bringing mindfulness to organisations was introduced to the media in Cape Town last week.

Jacobs said Mindful Revolution was launched with the aim to increase personal effectiveness in the workplace through workshops and ongoing training that highlights the correct techniques and strategies needed. It aims to bring integrative body-mind principles to cultivate optimal and peak performance for individuals in life and at work.

Mindful Revolution has brought together qualified practitioners that focus on neuro-feedback, biofeedback, mindfulness and bio-energetics to give holistic training and techniques to businesses.

Jacobs (35), a former oil trader who was addicted to life in the fast lane, discovered mindfulness a year ago when he hung up his oil boots in London and came to Cape Town to find his way back to reality.

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The event at The Last Word hotel in Constantia included workshops by specialists in the field. Editors, producers and TV personalities closed their eyes to the sound of psychotherapist Linda Kantor’s bells during a mindful meditation workshop, had their brain activity analysed by Nazanin Madadi, brought centredness to their bodies through bio-energetics with Lance Pye and learnt how portable heart measuring devices could reduce stress with Alan Strydom.

Mindful Revolution packages these techniques into workshops for corporate. “We will assist your employees in exploring new methods and skills, providing both group and individualised instruction to assist learning,” said Jacobs. “We encourage the practice and integration of self-regulation techniques into the workspace and ultimately into employees' lives.

“Feedback is direct and results tangible,” he said. “We have partnered with a leader in biofeedback, HeartMath South Africa, who supports us with the latest in portable biofeedback technology to accomplish this task.”

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- Fin24.