Mental health matters
The property industry is full of throw-away buzzwords and phrases, but there are some meaningful terms we take seriously here at Viewber. Mental health, wellbeing and wellness are an important part of our operation.
“As a growing business, we have a responsibility to care and that’s reflected in the issues senior management prioritise,” says Viewber’s Founder, Ed Mead. “ We’ve moved eco issues up our agenda, achieving carbon neutral status, and place equal emphasis on the mental health of our team.”
Viewber’s stance comes as a new study entitled ‘Psychological Distress Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic’ found that the overall mental health of the UK population has, perhaps unsurprisingly, declined since the onset of the pandemic.
This new pressure on our wellbeing dovetails with an often complex workplace environment, that includes working from home – very much a Viewber staple. New research from Culture Shift found that 42% of the UK workforce have seen their mental health affected by a toxic workplace culture.
Viewber is a signatory of the Mindful Employers Charter, which openly demonstrates our commitment to better mental health at work. We also abide by a ‘Dignity at Work’ policy, designed to create a healthy, respectful, safe and enjoyable organisation in which to work, and have voluntarily signed up to the ‘Menopause Workplace Pledge.’ While these are worthwhile gestures, it is our practical actions making the most difference.
We recently gained a trained MHFA England (Mental Health First Aider) in the shape of CET Member, Kate Campbell-Balcombe. Kate is now able to spot the signs, and respond to the mental and physical health needs of anyone in the Viewber HQ team who may be experiencing an issue.
In addition, Viewber employees have access to a 24/7 Employee Assistant Line, monthly wellbeing checks with a line manager and undergo six-monthly stress risk assessments. “Many of our colleagues feel better cared for just knowing there is support in place, should they need it, plus diarised catch-ups that focus on mental health and not professional performance giving employees a dedicated platform to chat about how they’re feeling,” adds Ed.
“Some of our initiatives may sound a little left field – sound baths, Japanese shiatsu and mindfulness – but employee feedback has been very positive,” adds Ed. “We are building a workplace culture that balances wellbeing with the expectations of professional life. For Example, our weekly Spotify playlists are designed to promote positivity, and we run ‘Wellness Wednesdays’, which gives us a platform to promote different topics, such as Mental Health Week and Stress Awareness Month. Our employees also enjoy inclusive social events that celebrate diversity and different cultures.”
“We know someone’s mental health can be improved by the smallest of acts, so we continue to send care packages to all employees, filled with tea, coffee and chocolates, and send handwritten thank you letters to colleagues – small gestures that can have a big impact on how someone is feeling.”
Viewber also acknowledges that what happens out of the workplace can have a detrimental effect on mental health within office hours. Initiatives such as the ‘Mums and Dads HQ Team’, occupational health support and a provision of wellbeing time off allow the team to feel at their best and find balance.
If you’d like to know more about any of our mental health activities or for details of Viewber’s services, please get in touch.
