Not the posters. Not the awareness days. Not the tick-box policies. The real stuff.
In this episode, host Paul Barnes is joined by Kathy Hayman (Founder, Better Minds Better Business) and Nicola Forsyth for an honest, practical conversation about workplace mental health — and why it's not just a wellbeing issue, it's a commercial one.
In this episode, we cover:

Why SME owners need to see mental health as a business performance issue, not a HR checkbox
The difference between absenteeism and presenteeism — and which one costs more
Why stress spreads from the top, and how leadership behaviour shapes team culture
The early warning signs of burnout that most leaders dismiss until it's too late
Why so many business owners feel they have to hold everything together — and what that costs
What a mentally healthy small business actually looks like in practice — and it's not yoga at lunchtime

Your challenge from this episode: On a scale of 1 to 10, how supported do you feel in your business right now? Not how profitable. Not how busy. Supported. If it's below a 6 — that's not weakness. That's data.
If you're making big decisions under pressure, avoiding your numbers because they feel overwhelming, or pretending everything's fine in front of your team — this episode is for you.

💬 This week, schedule 30 minutes to review not just your numbers — but your energy.
📧 info@cass-online.co.uk
🎙️ Giving You More Than Numbers — the CASS Business Support Podcast