WINNS TAKES MENTAL HEALTH SERIOUSLY
WINNS takes the mental health of its staff very seriously and, while it feels that it does a lot to promote the mental health of its staff, we recognise that there is still more we can do.
In true WINNS tradition, staff were asked to provide details of what they did to protect their own mental health and also what they felt the Company could do to help promote the mental health of all its employees.
The responses were varied and all suggestions have been collated and will be addressed at the Quarterly staff meeting in November.
NOVEMBER'S QUARTERLY TRAINING
November's Quarterly Staff Training Day will be heavily influenced by mental health awareness. For as well as re-writing the Company GOSPA, we have a guest speaker, Sean Gallagher from Avictus, to assist us in developing our attention levels and improve our perception of people, environments and events helping us to make better decisions in high pressure situations.
We will also have the traditional sports activity as well as craft activity to provide a release from the tensions facing us all in our busy lives.
EMPLOYEE RESPONSES TO SPECIFIC MENTAL HEALTH QUESTIONS
DAN HUNT - FINANCE MANAGER
What do you do to protect your mental health? Have time to myself.
What could the company do to help protect your mental health? Have mental health awareness speakers come in.
LESLEY COOPER - CRSA TOMMY'S LANE SECURITY OFFICER
What do you do to protect your mental health? Walking and exercise.
What could the company do to help protect your mental health? Wine club!
OLUWAYIMIKA AJAYI - KIER, MOGDEN LANE SECURITY OFFICER
What do you do to protect your mental health? Remove anything that is negative from my life.
What could the company do to help protect your mental health? Keep communicating with me.
Start doing? Not sure.
Stop Doing? Nothing you are at the right level.
Keep doing? Training and cross training staff.
Do, you agree that the company adheres to its core values? Fair, Inclusive, Respectful, Innovative, Transparent? Not sure about the company but Chris is always Fair and Respectful to me.
MIMI - KIER, MOGDEN LANE CLEANING OPERATIVE
What do you do to protect your mental health? Lots of exercise and dancing and staying active.
What could the company do to help protect your mental health? They already look after me very well by giving me work and checking I'm ok and happy.
Start doing? Giving out shopping coupons to staff that have done well.
Stop Doing? Not sure?
Keep doing? Talking to me and supporting me at work.
Do, you agree that the company adheres to its core values? Fair, Inclusive, Respectful, Innovative, Transparent? Yes all the time.
CHRIS TILT - TROUP BYWATERS CLEANING OPERATIVE
What do you do to protect your mental health? Try not to get too stressed, and read books.
What could the company do to help protect your mental health? Pay me more money as this is something I do stress about.
SULAMAIN MUGERWA - ECOTHERM SECURITY OFFICER
What do you do to protect your mental health? I have a positive outlook on life.
What could the company do to help protect your mental health? Keep employing me as I like the work and it fills my day.
S KHAN - CRSA SECURITY OFFICER
What do you do to protect your mental health? I like listening to music it calms me down.
What could the company do to help protect your mental health? Give me every weekend off to be with my family.
Improving our communication between Head Office and frontline operatives was a key feature of our GOSPA, so it is heartening to hear that all our efforts have not been in vain and that we are achieving what we set out to achieve.
WHAT WE HAVE INTRODUCED SO FAR THIS YEAR
360 DEGREE APPRAISALS
In April this year, WINNS changed its traditional staff appraisals to the 360 degree appraisal system. The 360 appraisal enables peers to offer unbiased and candid feedback to colleagues providing them an insight into the strengths and weaknesses they have observed in quantitative and qualitative data form.
This has been positively received and as a result, Head Office Appraisals will be conducted on a 6 monthly basis. Its always nice to hear good things about yourself, especially if you are hard on yourself.
STAFF HAVE THEIR SAY
The Company extends the opportunity for all staff to offer their opinion on what the Company should, start. stop, keep doing and all responses are viewed and issues addressed either by return or by the Board at their monthly meeting.
FRONTLINE OPERATIVES
WINNS Board recognised that there was a disparity in benefits between Head Office staff and frontline operatives and therefore in July this year, during the hot weather, Managers were instructed to deliver ice-creams to everyone when visiting the sites and conducting welfare and cleaning audits. This was really well received.
HYDRATION
In addition, the Board ordered water bottles for all frontline staff to help promote their hydration during their working day.
CHRISTMAS
In true WINNS style, the thinking caps are on for this years Christmas presents for frontline staff that support the environment and have a useful application.
WHAT MORE COULD WE DO?
Apart from requesting feedback both from clients and staff, WINNS actively seeks its own solutions to problems. Karen Stillwell, Chairperson at WINNS, is currently doing a Masters in Business Administration and is continually interrogating our current practices with a view of improving these to benefit all. Daniel Hunt, Accounts Manager, is also undergoing additional training with the Open University with the same intent.
AND FINALLY
If you feel you need help, there is a service that is available 24hrs a day, 7 days a week. If you call, you'll speak to a professional in your local NHS mental health service. They can discuss your current mental health needs and provide access to further support if needed. Calls to NHS Urgent Mental Health are free.
nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-urgent-mental-health-helpline.
Please remember, that if at any time you do not feel safe, please share your concerns with your HR department.
For any additional information on the above, or for a free no obligation consultation or quotation for cleaning and security services, please contact Ryan Stillwell on 01702 713100 or ryan.stillwell@winnsservices.co.uk