Well-being

PROFESSOR IVAN ROBERTSON BSc, PhD, FBPsS, FBAM is a Chartered Psychologist, Fellow of the British Psychological Society and Fellow of the British Academy of Management. He holds a chair in Work and Organisational Psychology at Leeds University Business School and is Emeritus Professor at the University of Manchester. He is also Managing Director of Robertson Cooper Ltd – a University of Manchester spin-off business dedicated to improving well-being, performance and leadership. He remains an active researcher and during his career has been responsible for over thirty books on Work & Organizational Psychology and over 150 scholarly articles/conference papers. He is currently a member of Dame Carol Black's Occupational Health Sounding Board and of the Expert Reference Group for the NICE Public Health Advisory Committee work on mental health at work. Ivan's earlier experience included several years in industry and national government working as a psychologist. He has held visiting posts in the USA (Michigan State University, Singapore (National University of Singapore) and Australia (Queensland University of Technology)   SIR CARY COOPER is Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health, Lancaster University Management School and Pro Vice Chancellor (External Relations) at Lancaster University, UK. He is the author of over 100 books (on occupational stress, women at work and industrial and organizational psychology), has written over 400 scholarly articles, and is a frequent contributor to national newspapers, TV and radio. He is a Fellow of the British Academy of Management and also of the Academy of Management (having also won the 1998 Distinguished Service Award). In 2001 he was awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for his contribution to organizational health. He is Chair of The Sunningdale Institute, a think tank on management/organizational issues, in the National School of Government. He was also the lead scientist to the UK Government Office for Science on their Foresight programme on Mental Capital and Well Being (2007-2008), and was appointed a member of the expert group on establishing guidance for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on 'promoting mental wellbeing through productive and healthy working conditions', 2009. He is Chair of the UK's Academy of Social Sciences. Professor Cooper is also the President of the Institute of Welfare, President of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, a national Ambassador of The Samaritans, a Patron of the Anxiety UK, and Patron of the National Bullying Helpline. HR Magazine named him the 6th Most Influential Thinker in HR in 2009.

Selected as a Best Book of 2011 by the Center for Optimal Adult Development (COAD) 'In this book, Robertson and Cooper provide a ground-breaking evidenced-based framework, backed by comprehensive real-world case studies, on the emerging top priority challenge facing today's organizations the well-being of employees.' Fred Luthans, Distinguished Professor of Management, University of Nebraska, USA 'Organisations with high levels of wellbeing reap the benefits of lower absenteeism and more productive employees. This makes the business case for improving wellbeing in the workplace.' Jo Swinson, MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Wellbeing Economics 'For our brains to be healthy and happy, we need them to evolve in physical and social environments tailored to maximize well being. Robertson and Cooper are pioneers on that front. Their book provides groundbreaking directions to achieve this goal at work, as they introduce the conceptof workplace wellbeing through real life examples of what organizations have done and/or should do to improve the lives and therefore the productivity of their employees. This unique book provides the reader with novel academic and corporate insights and benefits for both the individual and the organization.' Olivier Oullier, PhD, Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Provence, Scientific Adviser at the Center for Strategic Analysis of the Prime Minister of France 'Cary and Ivan explore the critical topic of organization health and well-being with their usual passion, rigour and reader-engaging simplicity. A must read for any organizational leader interested in optimizing the long term performance of their people.' Paul Chesworth, Vice President of HR, Vodafone Europe

• PART I: WHY DOES WELL-BEING MATTER? For Individuals For Organisations Well-Being And Employee Engagement PART II: WHAT IS WELL-BEING? Psychological Well-Being Measuring Well-Being PART III: WHAT INFLUENCES WELL-BEING? The Whole Person And Psychological Well-Being Work And Well-Being PART IV: GETTING THE BENEFIT Improving Well-Being – Building Personal Resilience Improving Well-Being – Building A Healthy Workplace PART V: CASE STUDIES