Youbee Media are a close-knit marketing consultancy team, and we celebrate our ability to be on the same wavelength (what we call our ‘Hive Mind’), maintain a great work-place culture and support one another. To continue our ambitious growth plans, I recognise the importance of looking after the team. After all, we’re only ever as ‘well’ as our minds are, and for our team to do great work, we need to keep well at work.
For this reason, I have recently signed the ‘Charter for Employers Positive about Mental Health’ and Youbee Media have become a Mindful Employer.
What is a Mindful Employer?
The Mindful Employer scheme is a n a public declaration to support the mental well-being of our staff. The Leeds Mindful Employer Network brings local employers together to champion positive mental health at work across the city. Commissioned by Leeds City Council Department of Public Health and is led by Leeds Mind and delivered in partnership with local employers.
It is an inclusive and collaborative space welcoming all local employers and their staff.
We can access:
- Peer support – quarterly events for networking and sharing good practice
- One-to-one support to develop strategies and make changes
- Guidance around signing the Mindful Employer charter and completing the Mindful Employer 10 steps
- Regular newsletters and bulletins
- Signposting to specialist local training, tools and resources
Why does mental health at work matter?
Recent evidence has shown a Return on Investment of £5 for every £1 spent on staff mental health. Fundamentally, it pays to be positive about mental health.
Staff who feel happy at work will be more motivated, productive and loyal. They will also be happier at home, with their families and in their communities.
Employers who get it right can expect to see:
- Reduced sickness and better job retention
- Improved outcomes and customer experience
- Increased diversity of staff teams
- Improved reputation and employee engagement
- Compliance with relevant legislation
Our commitment to support positive mental health
As an employer we recognise that in the UK, people experiencing mental ill health continue to report stigma and discrimination at work. Having signed the ‘Charter for Employers Positive about Mental Health’, we are committed to creating a supportive and open culture, where colleagues feel able to talk about mental health confidently and aspire to appropriately support the mental wellbeing of all staff.
As an employer, we have made an on-going commitment to:
- Provide non-judgemental and proactive support to staff experiencing mental ill health.
- Not make assumptions about a person with a mental health condition and their ability to work.
- Be positive and enabling towards all employees and job applicants with a mental health condition.
- Support line managers in managing mental health in the workplace.
- Ensure we are fair in the recruitment of new staff in accordance with the Equality Act (2010).
- Make it clear that people who have experienced mental ill health will not be discriminated against, and that disclosure of a mental health problem will enable both the employee and employer to assess and provide the right level of support or adjustment.
5 ways that we will manage mental health at work
- We will encourage our team to connect with those around us. Whether that be with family, friends or neighbours; both at home, work, school or in your local community. We are a sociable business that’s based on building relationships and connections. These connections will support and enrich us every day.
- Keep active by going for a walk after work, exercising and ensuring we’re doing something physical that suits different levels of mobility and fitness.
- Be aware and be grateful. Reflecting on our experiences will help us to appreciate what matters to us and share how we’re feeling
- Keep learning. We have a policy of development at work which means that we encourage the team to try something new, rediscover an old interest or sign up for that course. We know that learning new things will make us more confident.
- We encourage and support the act of giving. Whether that be doing something nice for a friend, or a stranger, volunteering your time or joining a community group. Youbee Media support the #BeMoreMandy fund which has ‘giving’ as the base of its existence.
For social media management advice, work with Youbee Media or join one of Becky’s marketing workshops for expert consultancy support.
