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Wellbeing - How employees feel about stress, pressure at work and life balance
The Wellbeing factor is closely linked with Fair Deal. If the scores for Fair Deal are low, the first place we’d recommend you look is Wellbeing.
If Wellbeing is also low, it may be that employees are being worked too hard and feel they are not being fairly remunerated for it.
Regular support sessions reflect real workplace concerns thanks to input from the employee voice Partnership Council, the organisation's four Inclusion Networks and the latest absence and turnover trends. Recent sessions have included a myth-buster on vaccines and infection control, and balancing work and family commitments.
There are development opportunities for every stage of leadership. These include courses for aspiring managers in partnership with University College Birmingham, front-line manager training and a 12-month Cranfield University training programme for senior leaders. Managers also benefit from ongoing support through coaching, mentoring and cross-functional management meetings.
Midland Heart is an early adopter of the Sustainability Reporting Standard for Social Housing to benefit its communities and the wider environment. It also looks to recycle wherever possible, whether that's the maintenance team separating waste before disposal or its development partners reusing old roof tiles when building new homes.
There are plenty of opportunities for employees to top up their cash pot. Those rated ‘outstanding’ at their end of year reviews can ‘Grab a Grand.’ There are also long-service rewards and monetary prizes, including for 'etHERO of the month', suggesting ideas implemented by the business and during games and team events.
From day one, all employees are encouraged to reach their potential. There is flexibility to support them to develop in whatever area they choose, and job rotation is encouraged to boost skills and support succession planning. A new role has been created, focusing specifically on employee learning and development.
On passing probation, staff receive health benefits which include an Employee Assistance Programme and private health cover, with a cash-back option and the chance to add their families for a small additional cost. And working hours have been cut by one and a quarter hours a week with no change to salaries.
Employee support takes many forms. It includes training so they feel more confident handling demanding customers or challenging safeguarding or domestic abuse situations. There are also more informal opportunities, such as virtual 'open space' sessions where managers can share their experiences and knowledge, and the Wednesday Wellbeing Walk. Counselling services are also available.
All staff, from Board to team members, are encouraged to develop their emotional intelligence. A colour-based psychometric tool helps them better understand their style, strengths and the value they bring. It also supports managers in building high-performing teams. And employee development is continually reviewed through one-to-ones and appraisals.
The Trust provides two community hub buildings for groups to use free of charge for holiday and social activities, youth clubs, food banks and warm hubs. Through its social value project, it's also supported the set-up of a community laundry and an outdoor learning space and has helped deliver anti-social behaviour impact awareness sessions.
Employee wellbeing underpins day-to-day life at Staysure Group. There's a dedicated quarterly newsletter, trained mental health first aiders, wellbeing champions, a wellbeing room for staff in need of quiet time and walking route maps for those who could do with stepping away from their desks and getting some fresh air and exercise.
Online channels and apps keep everyone part of the social goings-on and activities, even if they're not in the office. They're also forums for people to comment and share ideas. At Christmas, small local businesses were invited to sell their products – an event encouraging staff into the office.
When employees get excellent service, they're encouraged to hand out 'we're looking for great people like you' cards showcasing Staysure job opportunities. Everyone who accepts a job offer gets a welcome pack, including a travel mug and snacks. And they get paid a 'set up' day, so they're ready to go on their first day.
Staff have access to an external coach for personal or career-related advice and internal counsellors, who offer counselling support or general conversation about work or personal matters. There are also Speak Up Guardians who staff can go to if they have work-related concerns that affect their health. A wellbeing app offers a variety of resources.
A cost-of-living payment has been made to staff and supermarket vouchers are available. Enhanced sick pay is available and staff receive 25 days' leave a year, plus eight bank holidays. The organisation also gives staff the opportunity to buy or sell up to one week's holiday per year.
The trust is working to ensure its work incorporates a greener, eco-friendly output, including ground, air and water-source heat pumps, solar panels and the infrastructure to support electric vehicles. It is also working on a carbon-zero strategy and action plan.
On the Slack platform there are social channels for specific interests, ranging from recipes and reading — to cats. There’s also a working-from-home channel that provides a social space for sharing tips, anecdotes and news. The optional Slack Donut app pairs people randomly for a weekly chat.
Glean knows that wellbeing and work-life balance go hand-in-hand, so it makes sure staff protect theirs by providing flexible hours, muting notifications from 6pm-8am and giving them three days’ holiday to recharge at Christmas, on top of their 33 days’ annual leave. The company also offers a cash-back healthcare scheme.
The company donated £10,000 to charities, including education bodies and those nominated by staff. A one-off contribution was made in response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and Glean supported its staff Pride group by paying for its entry to the Pride parade in Leeds.
To encourage a good work-life balance, the leadership team demonstrates that employees' home lives are just as important as work. Leaders bring their children in on company calls, make a point of doing something personal during the day and set the tone by promoting the idea that no one can do it all.
At SF the environment is high on the agenda. The organisation has ditched single-use plastics in favour of bamboo, a more sustainable material. Plastic water bottles and cutlery is banned, along with straws, bubble wrap and business card boxes. Stricter recycling methods have been brought in at all of its offices.
Staff can decide when they work their contracted hours so they can balance their work and home life more effectively. Greater emphasis has been placed on choosing to work when they are at their most productive. The 30 days’ annual leave entitlement is supplemented by ad-hoc company days off, especially when the workload is high.
Awareness sessions on subjects such as social wellbeing, mortgages, financial wellness, menopause, women’s health, infertility, pregnancy and baby loss, stress management, resilience, hybrid working, nutrition, children’s wellbeing, mental health in the LGBTQ+ community, anxiety, meditation and mindfulness are part of the firm's wellbeing offering.
The firm offers a generous pension that provides the option to salary sacrifice. Staff are given five weeks' annual leave and can buy or sell a week each year. An extra day is given for weddings/civil partnerships, religious holidays and house moving. Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay is also available.
A range of training methods are used, including formal courses, mentoring, coaching, e-learning, action-learning sets and videos. As well as structured training programmes for all areas of the business, the learning and development team provides informal training and support on demand, such as a five-minute chat before an important client meeting.
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