Building Better Mental Health
Health is holistic
It’s becoming a universally accepted fact that mental health is just as important as physical health. At D&G, we believe health requires a holistic approach and we focus on both physical and mental health throughout the business. We feel it is a vital pillar for a successful company - one is not more important than the other.
As an employer we take responsibility for providing knowledge and resources to our colleagues, enabling them to take a preventative approach to their physical and mental wellbeing in a supportive environment, so that when issues do arise, no one is left unsupported.
The most important thing
If we had to pick one thing a company can do to support good mental wellbeing in the workplace, it would be creating an honest, open, candid environment, where employees feel empowered and comfortable discussing their mental health with those around them. Statistically, only 33% of employees in the UK feel comfortable discussing their mental health with their Manager - we think this is a huge problem.
Everyone has mental health (just as we have physical health) and how we feel can vary. A large proportion of us will have experienced some form of poor mental health whether through coping with difficult feelings or emotions or suffering with severe mental health problems. It may have lasted a few days, it may have lasted years, it may continue to be incredibly difficult but, the fact is, without a supportive environment, recovery is slower and, in some cases, impossible.
The sooner we open up about our mental health, removing the stigma surrounding it, the more likely we are to catch issues before they become serious problems.
What can we, as a business, do to help?
Impart Knowledge
We focus on education. We run regular seminars and workshops on wellness including, but not limited to, nutrition, posture, sleep, breathing techniques and motivation. At least once a month we invite external speakers to speak to all our colleagues to arm us with the knowledge of how to live healthier lives.
We also have mental health first aiders throughout the business and understand the importance of having qualified people available to support those in need. These first aiders are placed in roles that come into contact with the whole company, the training team, senior management team and the HR team.
A Strong Support Network
A good induction is vital in any organisation. Starting a new role can be an incredibly stressful time so we have put a lot of thought and effort into making sure that our new starter induction is comprehensive and sets the right tone from the get-go.
Every Manager in the business is trained to spot signs of poor mental health and understand the importance of having open conversations with their team about how they are feeling on a regular basis. Each week, all Managers meet every member of their team privately, which provides the perfect opportunity to talk and ensures the relationship between Manager and team member is one built on open communication and trust.
We also understand that in some situations, conversations with colleagues can feel too close to home which is why we provide top of the range support in the form of private health cover which includes a mental health helpline, ensuring colleagues are not left to cope alone.
Leading from the Top
In a sales business, the art of work/life balance is notoriously difficult to conquer. For many, success at work is a huge part of feeling our best and working hard delivers rewards and positive feelings.
We know it is incredibly important that everyone has “down time” and that needs to be set as an example from the senior management team.
We provide our employees with generous holiday allowances and encourage holidays to be planned carefully at the beginning of the year, spread appropriately, and taken, in full! We even have a “special person birthday” benefit to give extra time off to do something nice for someone you care about on their birthday.
Has Covid-19 taught us anything?
Communication, communication, communication!
Since March, the world has felt like an incredibly difficult place to live in, people have experienced all manners of difficulties often never experienced before. Working from home, for many, was a new experience and presented a new challenge for our mental and physical wellbeing.
Uncertainty has been a particular worry for many. At D&G, we have focused heavily on communication during this difficult time keeping the whole company in the loop, as quickly as possible, with the ever-changing rules and policies and how that affected the business. No one likes the unknown, so we aim to react as quickly as possible and communicate effectively.
On a team level, morning meetings have become more important than ever. Every team at D&G starts the day with a morning meeting to set the tone for the day, ensure that everyone knows the plan, communicating important messages and checking in with each other. The importance of having contact with your team just twice a day when working from home cannot be underestimated.
My top tip for feeling good
“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
The Dalai Lama sums it up perfectly. We can all be a little bit kinder. Be open. Be supportive. Be understanding. In a culture where kindness is championed, mental health will be spoken about earlier, discussed with empathy and the negative impacts of poor mental health may be significantly reduced.
If you are kind to others, others will be kind to you. It’s a win-win situation!
