Wellbeing in Mauritius vs the UK - A Tale of Two Cultures

This blog dives into a fascinating comparison, discussing wellbeing in Mauritius versus wellbeing in the UK. Having moved from the UK to Mauritius, these two places are certainly worlds apart in geography, but in terms of wellbeing these are some of my observations.  

Let’s start with something we all deal with - stress.

Workplace Stress

In the UK, a significant portion of the workforce experiences stress. A survey of 1,020 UK workers highlighted that stress is a common concern across various demographics. employmenthero.com

Workplace stress is now more openly discussed. Companies are starting to acknowledge it as a real issue, offering mental health days, employee assistance programs, and even in-house counsellors. While there’s still work to be done, at least the conversation is happening.

Due to this, wellbeing is becoming a corporate priority in company budgets. Mindfulness sessions, wellness budgets, mental health first aiders - these things are slowly becoming mainstream.

Now, contrast that with wellbeing in Mauritius; workplace stress is often seen as a personal weakness rather than a workplace issue. Many employees feel that admitting they’re overwhelmed might make them look incompetent. Companies tend to avoid these discussions, and mental health days? Well, they’re pretty much unheard of.

The impact? Employees in Mauritius might struggle in silence, leading to burnout, disengagement, and even lower productivity. Meanwhile, in the UK, there’s a growing recognition that addressing stress can actually boost performance.

Employee Absenteeism Trends

The UK has seen a rise in employee absenteeism, reaching its highest level in a decade at 4% in 2023, equating to an average of 4.8 days lost per employee per year. wtwco.com

Comparable data for Mauritius is scarce, indicating a need for more comprehensive studies to understand absenteeism trends in the Mauritian workforce.

Employer Wellbeing Initiatives

UK employers are increasingly prioritising mental (72%) and physical (45%) wellbeing support for their employees. However, there's a notable gap, as 59% of employees express a desire for financial wellbeing support, which only 24% of employers currently address. wtwco.com

Wellbeing in Mauritius, is still seen through a traditional lens. Strong community ties, family, and leisure activities are big protective factors. But structured workplace wellbeing initiatives? Not as common yet.

Interestingly, though, while specific data on workplace stress in Mauritius is limited, a study focusing on the financial services sector found that mindfulness practices positively influenced employee engagement, suggesting potential benefits in mitigating stress. int-jecse.net

So, maybe this is the direction companies should explore!

Work-Life Balance

When it comes to work-life balance - this is another big difference between the two countries.

In the UK, companies have structured discussions around work-life balance. There are legal protections, hybrid working options, and a growing push for four-day workweeks.

Meanwhile, in Mauritius, work-life balance is still an evolving concept. The culture of long hours remains, and remote work isn’t as widespread. Finding structured solutions for balance - like flex hours or wellness programs - is still in its early stages.

The result? Employees in Mauritius may struggle with long work hours and fewer resources to help them manage stress effectively.

Resourcing & Burnout

Another key issue is resourcing. In many Mauritian businesses, teams are lean, and employees often take on multiple roles.

In contrast, UK companies - while not perfect - have more structured HR policies designed to prevent excessive workloads. Employees can often push back on unrealistic expectations.

But in Mauritius, saying "I can't handle this workload" isn’t easy. Employees may feel pressure to just get on with it, leading to high stress and burnout.

Island Life: A hidden challenge for wellbeing in Mauritius

Let’s talk about the logistics of island life. Living in Mauritius comes with some unique challenges that directly impact well-being.

First, traffic. Mauritius might be a small island, but commuting is a daily struggle. People often live in one region but work or send their kids to school on the other side of the island. And with increased urbanisation and commerce, traffic congestion has worsened.

Then, there’s weather uncertainty. In Mauritius, cyclones or heavy rains can shut down businesses and schools with little notice. While a day off might sound nice, it can be disruptive, especially for parents or people with tight work deadlines.

In contrast, the UK has different logistical challenges - trains running late, extreme cold in winter, and long commute times for those in major cities. But the key difference? Remote work is much more common in the UK, allowing people to maintain work-life balance more easily.

So, what can we learn?

Wellbeing in Mauritius could benefit from more open discussions about stress, structured workplace well-being programs, and remote work options to ease commuting struggles.

Meanwhile, the UK might take inspiration from Mauritius' strong sense of community and social connection, which plays a huge role in personal well-being.

One thing is clear - there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to well-being. Every country has its strengths and challenges, and the key is finding what works best for each culture.

In my podcast, I will be talking to leaders and business owners based in Mauritius to ask them their experiences of workplace culture, so subscribe and stay tuned.