THOMAS CARROLL EMPLOYEE WELLBEING POLICY
INTRODUCTION The condition of being contented, healthy, or successful; welfare The Definition of Wellbeing (Collins English Dictionary) Thomas Carroll recognise that supporting the mental wellbeing of our employees is as important for both individuals and the company. Promoting and protecting mental wellbeing is important for individuals’ physical health, social wellbeing and productivity. Addressing workplace mental wellbeing can help strengthen the positive, protective factors of employment, reduce risk factors for mental ill health and improve general health. A positive, supportive culture for mental wellbeing is important for all employees and therefore should be applied across the Group. Important aspects of mental health and wellbeing includes: Providing information and raising awareness Management skills to deal with issues around mental health and stress effectively Providing a supportive work environment Offering assistance, advice and support to anyone experiencing a mental health problem or returning to work after a period of absence due to mental health problems.
THE PURPOSE OF OUR WELLBEING POLICY This policy sets out the framework for us to be able to provide a positive environment that promotes and supports a positive state of mental health and wellbeing for our employees. We shall continuously strive, as far as is reasonably practicable, to promote mental health throughout the company by establishing and maintaining processes that enhance mental health and wellbeing. This policy will comply with Health & Safety legislation and best practice guidelines and will be developed in accordance with existing organisational policies and procedures.
POLICY AIMS We will promote a culture of good mental health and wellbeing to all employees as follows: Through effective communication designed to raise awareness and understanding about mental health and wellbeing By implementing measures at all levels of the company By listening to employees, adapting workplace policies, implementing the policies (as required) and evaluating their effectiveness. To develop a supportive culture, address factors that may negatively affect mental wellbeing and to develop management skills, to include: The promotion of understanding the importance of mental wellbeing to all employees, including best practice How to deal with issues around mental health and stress effectively Ensure that any employee suffering from mental illness is treated fairly, with respect and confidentiality and without discrimination.
PROVIDING SUPPORT TO EMPLOYEES Thomas Carroll undertakes to provide the following measures and ways of working to promote mental health and wellbeing: Offering flexible working arrangements where practicable Working with employees to create a culture where bullying, harassment, discrimination and racism is not accepted Provide training for all employees to raise awareness of everyday contributory factors, such as stress and excessive workload, that undermine mental health Ensuring that managers are aware of their obligations to promote a good working environment for their employees and colleagues as defined within this policy Implementing training and awareness programmes to create a culture where employees can talk openly about mental health problems and disclose difficulties without fear of discrimination or reprisal Providing proactive support for individuals who are experiencing mental health problems, inside and outside the workplace, in a positive manner. Where an employee is experiencing mental health issues, we will provide support in the following ways: Proactively making employees aware of third-party organisations that could provide information, advice and support Offering continued employment where practicable, subject to appropriate adaptions to the role Where an employee experiences a period of absence from work due to mental illhealth, working with the employee to develop a return to work plan that provides the best opportunity for the employee to return to work as soon as is reasonably practicable Ensuring that the employee is treated fairly and without discrimination Encouraging employees to seek the appropriate help through the NHS, Westfield Health or a mental health support organisation Identifying and remediating any factors within the workplace that are contributing to the negative mental health issues Dealing with mental health related issues in a sensitive manner, respecting the employee as an individual and acknowledging their right to confidentiality Being mindful of the organisation’s responsibilities under The Equality Act 2010.
This policy recognises that reducing stress in the workplace is a key component of supporting mental health and wellbeing. Thomas Carroll shall promote the principles and activities below, through workforce training and ongoing communication: Workload demands and expectations placed on employees should be effectively communicated, be achievable and accepted by all parties We will promote an environment where employees are encouraged to feedback to their manager about factors in their job roles that may induce stress, such as excessive workload or overly stretching performance targets Provide adequate support and training to enable the employee to meet the requirements of their role Provide sufficient communication to keep employees adequately informed about any information that may impact the organisation and their roles Ensure that managers are aware of their responsibilities towards their employees, including setting and managing performance in a manner that is consistent with this policy.
RESPONSIBILITIES Directors Ensure that this policy receives the necessary support and prioritisation to achieve its aim Participate in the annual review of this policy and its effectiveness Ensure that managers are aware of and implementing their responsibilities.
Managers Ensure that employees are aware of this policy, at induction and how to access it afterwards Actively promote a culture of good mental health and wellbeing through the implementation of this policy Manage and review the effectiveness of this policy and feedback to directors as appropriate.
All Employees DIRECTORS
Read and understand this policy, seeking clarification where required Support our aim of providing a culture of good mental health and wellbeing Ensure that this policy receives the necessary support and through their activities and when considering others prioritisation to achieve its aim. Take care of their own health and wellbeing, including mental health Ensure that their actions doreview not affect the policy health and and its safety and general Participate in the annual of this wellbeing of other people in the workplace effectiveness Raise issues or concerns and seek help from their line manager or an Ensure that managers are of, and implementing, their appropriate senior manager or aware director. responsibilities
MENTAL HEALTH, MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS & STRESS Three of the most common causes of long-term sickness absence are: Mental health, musculoskeletal disorders and stress Mental Health Mental health can affect anyone regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity or social group. The most common forms of mental ill health are anxiety, depression, phobic anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Manage mental health by: Keeping an open mind Learning the facts about mental health disorders Being flexible Seeking expert advice and guidance Listening: Giving an employee the time to talk about their concerns can be very therapeutic
6 STEPS TO IMPROVING WELLBEING Evidence suggests that the following six steps can improve our wellbeing:
Engage - Connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships.
Be Active - You don't have to go to the gym. Take a walk, go cycling or play a game of football. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life.
Take Notice - Be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness 'mindfulness'. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.
Keep Learning - Learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence. So, why not sign up for that cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, or figure out how to fix your bike?
Give Back - Even the smallest act can count, whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community center can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks. Live Healthy - Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and make sure you are eating a balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetables. Cut down on saturated fat and sugar as they increase your cholesterol, tooth decay, your chance of developing heart disease and obesity.
MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS Being proactive in tackling Musculoskeletal disorders - do something about these disorders before they happen and be aware of: Repetitive and heavy lifting Uncomfortable working position Working too long without breaks Bending and twisting repeatedly Exerting too much force
STRESS As well as workplace stress, we need to be aware of stress outside the workplace. Factors such as relationship, family or debt problems can create stress or turn the otherwise normal pressures of work into excessive ones.
CURRENT HEALTH & WELLBEING INITIATIVES AVAILABLE**
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Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) Your Employee Assistance Programme is a free and confidential service designed to support you, with access to professional, qualified advisers who are trained to help you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The EAP can help you with: Stress Bullying Bereavement Financial worries Alcohol or drugs misuse Neighbour disputes Legal information ...and much more To access your 24-hour telephone counselling and legal information services, call: 0800 015 5630 (scheme number 72715). Lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Calls made to this number from a UK landline are free of charge.
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Westfield Health Your health screening benefit under the Westfield Health Hospital Cash Plan/Private Medical provides cover for the following: Dental fees Optical fees Physiotherapy Chiropractor Acupuncture Consultation Osteopathy Homeopathy Chiropody Acupressure
Aromatherapy Indian head massages Reflexology Reiki Sports massages Allergy testing/food intolerance Nutritional therapy Hypnotherapy Health screening
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All cover is subject to the policy terms, conditions, benefit limits and exclusions and you are urged to check the policy wording, or with Westfield, before undergoing treatment or tests, to ensure that a claim is going to be met. Westfield Health require providers to have certain qualifications and registrations, so again, please check your policy booklet or with Westfield Health before undergoing treatment or tests. Some of the benefits are also available for dependent children and at an additional cost, payable by the employee, cover can be extended to include spouses.
Health Screening Your health screening benefit under the Westfield Health policy gives an overview of your health, aims to detect early signs of health issues and offer practical lifestyle advice, thus giving you peace of mind about your wellbeing. You can claim up to £200 under the Westfield Health cover. To give you an idea, the following companies are able to offer screenings/assessments: BUPA: www.bupa.co.uk/health/health-assessments St Joseph's Hospital, Newport: www.stjosephshospital.co.uk Nuffield Health: www.nuffieldhealth.com/health-assessments Insight: www.insighthealthscreening.co.uk
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Westfield Rewards Your Westfield Rewards is an online portal which provides Westfield Health policyholders with access to retail offers and discounts in over 200 high street/online retailers. Discounts can be made when policyholders purchase a re-loadable card online to be used in stores. Cash back can also be earnt on purchases made at retailers via the Westfield Rewards site. Â To save money on everyday shopping as well as essential healthcare costs, policyholders can simply register at www.westfieldrewards.co.uk
Westfield Health 3Rings Westfield Health 3Rings is suitable for people who are worrying about an ageing relative but cannot be with them 24/7. The 3Rings plug delivers a simple solution, giving peace of mind whilst respecting your loved ones privacy and helping them to stay independent in their own home. For information on the service, visit: www.westfieldhealth.com/3rings where there is a video tutorial. This service can be accessed by any employee or the general public and is not part of the Westfield Health benefit package. Â
**Westfield Health is only available to permanent employees. Please contact Louise Eedy or Julie Waters if you are unsure as to whether you are entitled to the benefit.
WE ALSO PROVIDE...
Relaxed Fridays (dress down, bacon rolls, encouraged to leave desks and interact)
Monthly massages
Stress Awareness Courses
Weekly fresh fruit baskets
DSE assessments
Water bottles
Providing free flu jabs
WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING... Taking lunch breaks everyday
Talking about any issues we have
Taking full allocation of annual leave
Eating the fruit
Drinking more water
Participating in the wellbeing calendar of
Taking regular breaks from our desks
events