Employee Wellbeing Hub

Wellbeing at Northstar Small habits. Good company. Your pace. A hub for every Northstar colleague who wants practical, optional ways to look after themselves and each other. Browse ideas across four areas of wellbeing, try what suits you, and skip what doesn't. How to use this hub Northstar Services is a fictional organization used as sample context. Every program, session and role on this site is an example to adapt. Wellbeing here means four things: moving and resting well, looking after your mind, feeling confident about money, and feeling connected to colleagues. Every activity is an invitation. You can join, watch, try a lighter version, or pass entirely. Not sure where to start? Pick the page that matches how today feels, read one idea, and try it this week. If you would like to suggest an activity or an accessibility adjustment, the Resources page shows who coordinates the program. Four ways in Each page has worked examples you can use straight away. Movement and recovery Stretch breaks, walking check-ins and ways to pause that fit a desk, a floor or a home office. Physical Focus, breaks and headspace A four-step reset routine and honest answers about taking breaks and asking for support. Mental Confidence with money questions Learning prompts and sample questions for general financial-learning sessions. Learning, not advice. Financial Connection on your terms Shared-interest chats, quiet coffee pairings and an appreciation board you can join in your own way. Social A worked example: the two-minute stretch break One small idea, adapted three ways. Pick a moment you already have Tie the break to something that happens anyway, so there is nothing new to remember. After a video call ends, before opening the next tab When the kettle is boiling or the coffee is brewing At the top of the hour, if your calendar allows Try this week Fit it to where you work The same pause looks different on a shop floor, at a desk or at a kitchen table. On a floor or in a queue: shift your weight and look into the distance At a desk: stand up, roll your shoulders, then sit back down At home: step to a window or into another room for a minute Adapt it Do it with someone, or on your own A shared pause can feel easier to keep, but a solo one counts just as much. Invite a nearby colleague with a quick "stretch?" Skip the chat if you would rather have a quiet minute Pass any day it doesn't suit you Your choice Physical Wellbeing Movement and recovery, your way Looking after your body at work is mostly about small, repeatable habits: changing position, looking away from the screen, walking while you talk, and finishing the day with some energy left. Everything below is optional and can be scaled up or down. Choose what is comfortable for you, and use your own judgement about what suits your body on a given day. Anything that does not feel right is a good one to skip. Two examples to start from Both can be done solo or with a colleague, and both work on site or from home. The desk reset (about 2 minutes) A pause between tasks to change position and rest your eyes. Stand up or shift your seat if standing isn't an option Roll your shoulders and stretch your arms to a comfortable range Look at something far away for 20 seconds Sip some water before you sit back down The walking check-in (10 to 15 minutes) Swap a seated one-to-one for a walk when the topic suits it. Agree the route and pace beforehand, indoors or out Keep the agenda to one or two topics Offer a phone-call version for colleagues who cannot walk together Either person can switch back to a seat at any time Common questions Do I have to join group activities? No. Every activity is voluntary, and you never need to give a reason for sitting one out. What if I can't do an exercise as described? Change it or leave it out. Every example here is a starting point. If a session needs an adjustment such as a seat, a quieter space or a different format, tell the activity host or the program coordinator listed on the Resources page. Can I take a movement break during working hours? Short breaks are encouraged in this sample program. Check with your manager about how they work around your shifts, customer coverage or meeting load. Can I suggest a different kind of activity? Yes. Suggestions that work for different abilities and working patterns are especially welcome. See the Resources page for who to send them to. Mental Wellbeing Make room to think clearly Busy days leave little space to notice how you are doing. This page offers a short routine for resetting between tasks, and clear answers about taking breaks and finding support. Use it as often or as rarely as you like. A four-step reset About five minutes, anywhere you work. Pause Stop what you are doing and take a few slow breaths. Notice where your attention has been. Choose one priority Ask what the single most useful thing is for the next hour. Write it on a sticky note or at the top of your task list. Take a screen break Step away from the screen for a couple of minutes. Get water, look out of a window, or stretch. Return when ready Come back to your priority. If you still need more time, it is fine to take it or to talk to your manager about workload. Questions people ask How do we keep wellbeing sessions voluntary? Invitations say plainly that attendance is optional. Hosts do not take attendance or ask people to explain absences. Nobody is expected to share personal details in any session. What if something at work is affecting me? Start with whoever you feel most comfortable with, such as your manager, a trusted colleague or the people team. The Resources page explains how support requests are routed in this sample program, and your organization will confirm the actual routes. Is it okay to take a break when I'm busy? Short breaks usually help you do better work, and this hub treats them as normal. If your role makes breaks hard to take, raise it with your manager so coverage can be planned. Financial Wellbeing Learn the questions worth asking Feeling confident about money starts with understanding the vocabulary and knowing which questions to ask. General financial-learning sessions in this sample program cover concepts and give you a place to ask questions in a group. Sessions are educational. Facilitators do not review personal finances, recommend products, or tell anyone what to do with their money. For decisions about your own situation, you may want to speak with a qualified professional. Learning topics to explore Pick one that sparks curiosity. Budgeting basics How people think about income, regular costs and flexible spending, and a few common ways of tracking them. What does a spending category look like? How often do people review a budget? Saving concepts Key ideas such as emergency funds, short-term and long-term goals, and why timeframes matter. How is a short-term goal different from a long-term one? What does compound growth mean in plain words? Understanding workplace resources How to read official documents your employer provides and who to ask when something is unclear. Where do I find the official source for a question? Which terms should I ask someone to explain? Bringing a question to a session A worked example of how a general session can run. Sample questions an employee might bring Written in general terms, so anyone in the room can learn from the answer. What is the difference between a one-off cost and a recurring cost? How do people decide which goal to prioritize first? What should I look for in a document I do not understand? Where can I find reliable general information to read afterwards? How facilitators keep it general Ground rules that keep the session useful and comfortable for everyone. Explain concepts and terms rather than judging personal choices Redirect individual circumstances to qualified professionals Avoid recommending specific products or providers Never ask anyone to share their own figures Social Wellbeing Invitations, not expectations Feeling connected to colleagues makes work easier and often more enjoyable. People connect in very different ways, so the ideas below range from lively to very quiet. Every one is an invitation. Say yes, say not this time, or suggest a version that works better for you. You do not need to explain. Three ways to connect Shared-interest chat An optional thirty-minute call or room booking for people who like the same thing, such as books, gardening or board games. Come for the whole slot or drop in for ten minutes. Cameras are optional and the chat window is always open A rotating host picks a topic and keeps the conversation light Group Quiet coffee pairing Two colleagues are matched for a relaxed chat, in person, by phone or over video. Pairs choose their own length and can go for a walk or sit in silence for a minute if they like. Opt in with the coordinator and opt out at any time No agenda and no follow-up required One to one Appreciation board A shared board where colleagues leave short thank-you notes whenever they like. It is a good option for people who prefer writing to talking. Notes are specific, such as thanking someone for covering a handover Anyone can read the board and nobody has to post Asynchronous Joining, declining and suggesting How do I join something? Reply to the invitation or tell the program coordinator, whichever is easiest. There is no sign-up form to complete and no commitment beyond the first session. What if I'd rather not take part? That is completely fine. Nobody is told who declined, and you will still receive future invitations unless you ask to stop. Can I suggest a more accessible alternative? Yes, and please do. A different time, a quieter room, a written option or a captioned call can often be arranged. Tell the host or the coordinator. Can I run an activity myself? Yes. Share your idea with the coordinator and they can help with a room, an invitation and ideas for making it welcoming. Activities and Calendar Choose a format that suits you Wellbeing activities come in short and long, live and asynchronous formats, so there is usually something that fits your day. The session below is a fictional example of how an optional team reset might run, and the table compares formats at a glance. It is not a live schedule. Looking for ideas first? Visit the Physical , Mental or Social pages. Sample session: a 30-minute optional team reset Welcome The host explains the plan, repeats that everything is optional, and invites people to join in their own way. Minutes 0 to 3 Gentle movement A short guided stretch with seated and standing versions. People can watch or step away. Minutes 3 to 10 Quiet focus time Everyone picks one priority for the afternoon and works on it quietly, or simply rests. Minutes 10 to 20 Open chat An optional conversation on a light topic. The chat box is open for anyone who prefers to type. Minutes 20 to 27 Wrap-up The host thanks everyone, shares any follow-up ideas and posts the next session's format. Minutes 27 to 30 Activity formats at a glance Sample formats. Times and preparation are indicative only. Format Typical time How you take part What to prepare Team reset session 30 minutes Live, with chat and camera optional Nothing; comfortable seating helps Walking check-in 10 to 15 minutes In pairs, on foot or by phone Footwear and a route you like Shared-interest chat Live, drop in at any point A topic to talk about, if you like Coffee pairing Your choice One to one, any format you agree Nothing Appreciation board A minute or two Written, any time A thought worth sharing Financial-learning session 45 minutes Live, questions by voice or chat A general question, if you have one Resources and Measurement Support routes and how the program learns This page covers two things: where employees can look for support information, and how program owners check whether activities are useful without learning anything private about individuals. The resources and roles below are fictional samples for Northstar Services. Your organization confirms the real list, and the information given by those teams is always the final word on what is available to you. Sample resource types Where employees might look, and who looks after each item. Resource What it helps with Looked after by Wellbeing program guide How the hub works and how to join activities Program coordinator Support routing overview Who to approach first for different kinds of concern People support team Accessibility adjustments guide How to request changes to an activity or a space Accessibility lead Workplace benefits summary Official details of what the organization provides People operations Activity host checklist Running an inclusive, optional session Example: a privacy-conscious quarterly review Program owners look at broad patterns, not individuals. What the owners look at At the end of each quarter the coordinator reviews a handful of simple observations and writes a short summary for the wider team. Which formats drew people back, in general terms Common themes from optional, anonymous feedback comments Whether sessions were offered at times that suit different shifts Ideas people suggested for accessibility improvements Sample review What the owners never do Individuals are not tracked, ranked or compared, and nobody is asked why they did not attend. No attendance reporting by name No collection of health or financial details Feedback summaries are shared back with employees so they can see what changed Who does what Plans activities, welcomes suggestions and hosts the quarterly review Wellbeing Program Coordinator People and Culture First point of contact for personal or workplace concerns, and routes requests to the right place People Support Team Helps adapt activities, spaces and formats so more people can take part Accessibility Lead Workplace Services