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“We didn’t let it become a hard-luck story. We kept going to the end and did not quit.”

The world of workplace wellbeing has been turned on its head over the past two years – with the importance of a happy and healthy workforce becoming ever more apparent in light of the individual and business struggles we’ve all experienced.

Because it’s not just team members who benefit from a focus on physical, mental, financial and emotional health: their employers also stand to benefit from implementing an effective workplace wellbeing strategy.

Here, the team from Paycare – proud sponsors of Motherwell Football Club – share their expert insights, having supported employee health and wellbeing since 1874.

Healthy employees take less time off sick

Sickness leave has been reduced to 3.6 days on average per employee per year – with carefully thought out policies that promote early detection and intervention of illnesses, meaningful support for those with long-term conditions, and assistance in the case of injury having the potential to improve employee health further.

Introducing mental health assistance alone sees sickness absence fall in a third of companies. This is far more preferable than the alternative: creating a culture where employees feel they must come to work even if they are unwell.

While on the surface this approach may look to be beneficial for the company in question, presenteeism has an even more damaging impact when it comes to business revenue: costing the UK economy £15.1 billion each year.

Increased productivity and loyalty

In workplaces where mental health is addressed, productivity rises by 12%, and more than half of companies report increased engagement and morale. Beyond these gains, the financial impact is clear: for every £1 a company invests in employee mental health, they can expect a £5 return through reduced absence, presenteeism, and staff turnover. Meanwhile, industries like entertainment have also seen shifts, particularly with the rise in digital engagement options, such as an expansive online casinos list, that provide mental escape and relaxation, which is increasingly relevant in discussions on workplace wellness and mental health solutions.

Companies not yet realising the importance of workplace wellbeing are not only losing good employees to other firms, one in every eight people leaving the labour market does so because of ill health. Those dismissing the importance of healthcare perks might also find themselves missing out on top applicants – a third consider wellbeing benefits as a top priority when considering whether to accept a job offer.

What should a Wellbeing Strategy include?

To prove truly impactive, a formalised Wellbeing Strategy should be implemented to ensure consistency of offering across the business and ease of communication about perks and benefits to existing and potential staff, as well as external stakeholders and clients.

A Wellbeing Strategy should protect the emotional, mental, physical and financial wellbeing of every team member. Naturally, employees should be supported through any specific problems which arise. Still, the strategy should also focus on preventing issues and making health and wellness a priority at all times, not just when a specific team member is experiencing a problem.

As well as covering specific benefits available, the strategy should also focus on the company’s flexible working policy, who employees can approach for support, and whether adjustments can be made in light of long-term conditions.

The bottom line

A well-thought-out strategy offering effective benefits focused around all aspects of employee health – physical, emotional, mental, and financial – has been shown to reduce absenteeism, presenteeism, and absence leave, while simultaneously increasing loyalty, staff retention, and productivity.

An investment in staff wellbeing isn’t just good for individuals. It’s good for business – and it needn’t be a huge investment, as Paycare has proved with its Bundle package.

For just £2 per employee per month, Bundle members have access to three core wellbeing services: round-the-clock virtual access to a GP, confidential telephone support and counselling, and discounts on everything from utilities and sports gear to holidays and days out.

Visit paycare.org/wellbeing-bundle for more information.

If you can’t make Motherwell v Greenock Morton in person on Saturday, there’s still a way to watch.

A pay-per-view online stream of the game is now available for all fans to buy for £12.

To get your pass, head to ppv.motherwellfc.co.uk. Please note that this stream is restricted to viewers in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland and Wales. It is not available to buy in England, due to UEFA restrictions.

If you’re based outside of the UK/Ireland, you can watch as part of your subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Get your ticket

Don’t forget, tickets are still available if you want to make the trip to Fir Park.

If you’re a season ticket holder, we’ve reserved your seat for you.

To get yours, just log in to your account at tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk. Once logged in, your reserved ticket(s) will be in your account menu and will be uploaded to your card. You will not be required to collect a physical ticket.

If you don’t have a season ticket, match tickets can also be bought from tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk. Pay at the gate is not available. Alternatively, call 01698 333333 or email tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk.

Prices for tickets are:

• Adult: £15
• Over 60s, full-time students and 16-18 year-olds: £10
• Under 15s: £5

For away supporters, the ticket booth at the Tommy McLean Stand will open from 1.30pm, and will accept cash and card.

Our 2021/22 Scottish Cup campaign starts on Saturday with the visit of Greenock Morton.

Kick-off at Fir Park is at 3pm.

Get your ticket

If you’re a season ticket holder, we’ve reserved your seat for you. You have until 1pm on Friday to guarantee your normal seat.

To get yours, just log in to your account at tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk. Once logged in, your reserved ticket(s) will be in your account menu and will be uploaded to your card. You will not be required to collect a physical ticket.

If you don’t have a season ticket, match tickets can also be bought from tickets.motherwellfc.co.uk. Pay at the gate is not available. Alternatively, call 01698 333333 or email tickets@motherwellfc.co.uk.

Prices for tickets are:

• Adult: £15
• Over 60s, full-time students and 16-18 year-olds: £10
• Under 15s: £5

For away supporters, the ticket booth at the Tommy McLean Stand will open from 1.30pm, and will accept cash and card.

Watch live online

If you can’t make Motherwell v Greenock Morton in person on Saturday, there’s still a way to watch.

A pay-per-view online stream of the game is now available for all fans to buy for £12.

To get your pass, head to ppv.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Covid-19 information

Covid-19 certification checks will now be in place at all matches.

At Fir Park, we require that you are either:

• fully vaccinated, which will include a booster vaccine for those who had a second dose more than four months ago; or
• able to provide proof of a negative lateral flow test.

We also advise that all fans take a lateral flow test before travelling to the match, regardless of their vaccination status.

Join us before the match

The Cooper Bar is open from 12pm for food and drink. Table service is in operation for this match.

Our Centenary Suite is open to supporters who have already purchased hospitality for this fixture.

Form guide

Motherwell returned from the cinch Premiership winter break with a 3-1 loss at Ross County on Tuesday night.

Prior to that, Graham Alexander’s men had won two on the bounce, beating St Johnstone and Livingston.

Morton are unbeaten in three, drawing with Kilmarnock and then winning against Dunfermline Athletic and Ayr United.

Tale of the tape

Motherwell and Morton have met three times in the last five years in cup competitions, with the Steelmen winning all three.

A 4-0 League Cup win in 2017 was followed up by the same scoreline in the same competition two years later, before Motherwell won a penalty shootout in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup last season.

“We’ve thrown the game away. Hopefully that is a harsh lesson for everyone.”

Motherwell’s return to cinch Premiership action ended in defeat at Ross County.

Sondre Solholm’s own goal in the dying seconds of the first half was cancelled out by Jordan Roberts’ stunner early in the second.

But a double from County’s Regan Charles-Cook, after a red card for Jordon Tillson, gave the hosts all three points.

Motherwell controlled large spells of the opening period, but chances were at a premium.

Maguire’s long-distance drive was inches past the right post, as was a bending free kick from Van Veen from 25 yards which had home ‘keeper Maynard-Brewer scampering.

A shout for a penalty was waved away in between, with Solholm clearly caught by the closed hand of the County keeper after he won a header in the box, which dropped wide.

Then at the end of the half, a downward Donnelly header from a corner was going wide but Van Veen was again inches away from making the telling connection.

With no shots on target the whole first 45, a sucker punch shouldn’t have arrived, but it somehow did in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time.

Charles-Cook found space on the left after beating Mugabi, and his low cross across the face of goal was turned into his own net by Solholm at the front post.

‘Well needed to inject something extra into their play and it arrived 10 minutes into the second half.

Van Veen refused to give up down the left and chased down a long ball to find himself up against two County men.

Roberts had broke from deep and, receiving the ball 25 yards from goal, set himself with a deft touch before sending an unstoppable half-volley into the top right corner of the net.

With County rattled, their discipline would go soon after.

Roberts again caused trouble down the right and substitute Tillson answered with a two-footed lunge, which sparked furious scenes between both sets of players.

In the end, Tillson saw a just red to put the hosts down to 10 men.

The game predictably sparked to life, with both sides going at it at in an end-to-end second period.

But it would be County who would strike next in the 72nd minute.

A cross from the right wasn’t well dealt with as White and Mugabi collided, and Charles-Cook arrived late to smash the ball home from 12 yards.

The 10 men then went even further in front with 10 minutes left.

Charles-Cook’s burst to the byline saw him attempt to cross the ball, only for Mugabi’s outstretched hand to make contact with the ball in the box.

Referee Beaton pointed to the spot, and Charles-Cook stepped up himself to put home County’s third.

Motherwell: Kelly, O’Donnell, Solholm, Mugabi, McGinley, Donnelly, Maguire (Shields), Goss, Roberts, Woolery (Amaluzor), Van Veen.

Subs not used: Fox, Morrison, Carroll, O’Connor, Grimshaw, Cornelius, Slattery.

It is the Lanarkshire derby up next for Motherwell as they take on Hamilton Academical at New Douglas Park on Sunday 23 January. 

Kick off is 2pm. 

Come and Watch

Tickets are priced at £5 for adults and £3 for concessions, and can be purchased on the gate.

Tale of the Tape 

The first women’s Lanarkshire derby of the season took place earlier this campaign, with the women of steel running out comfortable 3-0 winners. 

Leanne Crichton opened the scoring from the spot, before Lori Gardner blasted home a second. Jemma Hughes added a third in the second half to secure all three points. 

Form Guide

Hamilton last picked up points in the league at the start of November when they drew 2-2 with Spartans. 

They are currently in 10th place in the league with five points. 

Motherwell drew 2-2 with Partick Thistle last weekend, with Amy Anderson and Kaela McDonald-Nguah getting on the scoresheet. 

The claret and amber are one point off of fifth place Spartans. 

Tony Watt has left Motherwell to join Dundee United.

The striker moves to Tannadice for an undisclosed fee.

Signed initially on a short-term deal in February 2020, Watt netted 19 goals across 70 appearances in claret and amber.

We thank Tony for his contributions and wish him well for his future career.

With the cinch Premiership winter break now at an end, and fans back in stadiums, the Motherwell boss says the team are ready to pick up where they left off on Tuesday night.

Sean Goss comes across as a laidback character. But the reality is one of a talented player with many stories to tell.

Born in Germany to parents based there in the army, his journey from Exeter City to Manchester United saw him make his debut against Paris Saint-Germain, and rub shoulders daily with Wayne Rooney, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Paul Scholes, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and current ‘Well team-mate Liam Grimshaw.

Having left Old Trafford to forge his path in the game, the midfielder has had a challenging route to Fir Park via QPR, Rangers, St Johnstone and Shrewsbury Town, one punctuated with a delayed diagnosis of Eosinophilic Esophagitis, a chronic allergic inflammatory disease of the muscular tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach.

Now a regular at Motherwell and a leader in the assists chart, Goss also has his sights set on international football with Northern Ireland, with both his grandparents having been born in Belfast.