Bench Accounting is a rapidly growing Vancouver-based tech company that prides itself on offering their employees an amazing employee experience. Of course they are leveraging technology to scale, but what’s unique about Bench is that they are encouraging their teams to be in touch with how they are doing physically and mentally so they can do their best work. This means truly disconnecting from work, technology and the daily grind. It’s been interesting to see the amazing results of their employees. Sarah will take the audience through their approach and how you can make it happen in your organizations.

1. The Impact of Tech
on Wellness at Work
And how it all really comes down to high performance

2. “
2
How are you feeling today?

3. 3
Wellness programmes are a great way to encourage
engagement, lift performance and foster collaboration but have
long been regarded as a “nice to have” rather than a strategic
imperative.
Studies show that nurturing employee health and wellness has
a significant impact of productivity which in turn = profitability.
Wellness At Work

4. 4
What was the last thing you did to be good to yourself?
How many of you have access to a wellness program?
How do you make use of it?
Does the $$ make a difference to how you would make use of it?
How is it managed? Does how it is managed make a difference to how you
will use it?
Wellness Design

5. 5
What does your wellness plan include?
How much $
How will it impact your employees?
How will it benefit the business?
What tools will you use to run it?
What infrastructure do you need to support it?
Design a Plan

6. “
6
Your quality of your mental health
affects how you move through the
world - how you think and act in your
daily life, and how you affect the people
around you
- Bench Mental Health Guide

7. 7
Available to anyone inside
or outside of Bench, we
decided to write a guide to
help start conversations
around mental health.
The Bench Mental Health Guide

8. 8
61%Admit to being addicted
to their devices
50%of people prefer to
communicate digitally
2.5xMore likely to suffer depression
as a heavy internet user
22%Melatonin is suppressed if
electronics are used before bed
33%Rather clean a toilet
than their inbox
Unplugged isn't a dirty word

9. 9Square Breathing
Breathe in
Breathe out
HoldHold
4 seconds
4seconds
4 seconds
4seconds

10. 105 Reasons To Unplug From Technology After Work
#1 - Stress Recovery
Although we may resist it, research shows that we really do need down time after work to mentally
recharge for the next day.
#2 - Multitasking and personal life don't mix
We have all done it; been at dinner with the family and your phone “dings”. It’s fine - you are an expert
multitasker and can do both right? Wrong. Studies show that people who rate themselves as the best
multitaskers are actually the worst at it; they also tend to be greater risk takers and are more impulsive
overall.
#3 - Physical Effects
Recent research suggests that our incessant texting and Instagram scrolling may be hurting our backs. And
if that wasn't bad enough, your phone is teeming with bacteria and then we put our phone on our face.
Which causes? Breakouts. Not to mention eye strain, Wifi causing low sperm count, headaches, and texting
claw!

11. 115 Reasons To Unplug From Technology After Work
#4 - Sleep and Other Psychological Problems
Internet addiction may actually be a thing. But not only that, technology is linked to other types of
mental health issues. Last year a Swedish study found that young people who used technology heavily
had a pronounced risk for mental health problems like depression, stress, and sleep disorders. There is
also a study into growing Facebook and the direct link to loneliness and a feeling of dissatisfaction with
our lives.
#5 - Is your cell phone making you a jerk?
Another interesting study last year found that when people used cell phones they were less likely to be
good to others, or to display “prosocial behavior”. The theory is that the phones make us feel falsely
connected to others so we are less likely to seek out real life connections.

12. 12What to do about it
✓ Set Boundaries
✓ Stop Multitasking
✓ Remain Grateful
✓ Put. The Device. Down.

13. 13
There is a ton of tech out
there that encourages
holistic wellness including:
• Guided Meditation
• Health Tracking
• Online Counselling
• Benefits Providers
• Digital Journals
Technology. It’s not all bad

14. 14Sharesies
What are your tech finds that encourage
wellness?
What do you do to stay well?
How has being transparent about wellness
helped you in your life?

15. 15Fin.