Together we stay stronger October is Barratt's health and wellbeing month - Round Up We end our health and wellbeing month by taking a look back on what we have done this last year and how we have responded, and continue to respond to your valued feedback.
Employee feedback on our approach to health and wellbeing support This year’s engagement survey closed as the Company was going into hibernation in March, so responses would not have included any feedback about our response during the COVID-19 pandemic, however 173 comments were made across the business in this year’s engagement survey relating to health and wellbeing. The comments gave really positive feedback, with some of the comments we received below: “Promotion of work / life balance and positive health & wellbeing are a priority which is excellent.” “Generally it is positive. Company is striving to deal with new Health and Wellbeing issues around stress and depression.” “I love the support I have been given not just for my role in the company but the love and support for my personal life is heartwarming to me, I am used to being seen and not heard in my previous jobs so hard for me to open up sometimes but I am being encouraged to do so and it really helps.”
COVID-19 response survey feedback At the end of June we asked colleagues about our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as part of that we once again requested feedback on our approach to health and wellbeing throughout this period. A summary of results are below: You welcomed the health and wellbeing support that has been made available and told us that you wanted to see more of this going forwards. We therefore continue to share details of the health and wellbeing support available to colleagues and adapt this based on feedback from you on areas of concern i.e. home schooling, isolation, working from home, lockdown survival. We then published a Health and Wellbeing support guide which covers a range of different areas, including support for mental, physical and financial wellbeing, staying connected, flexible working and adjusting to new ways of working, whether these be at home or on site. We asked how useful you found the support on health and wellbeing and this scored on average 4.37 / 5. We also asked ‘Are there any areas of health and wellbeing you would like further support with?’ Although 76% responded that there were no areas they needed further support, some of you did ask for the following: 12% wanted to see more mental wellbeing support. 8% indicating further lifestyle support. 7% would like to see additional financial and physical support. Our communications have continued to feature information and resources for all areas which impact positive health and wellbeing. From those who left comments in the open text field: A number of people commented that more needs to be done to encourage a work/life balance as we continue to work from home, with a number noting that this is particularly the case for those with children. Action we have taken:· We have reviewed and updated our Flexible Working Policy (which is under continuous review). In a recent Line Manager communication we confirmed that office-based employees are encouraged to work remotely as we keep our offices closed until January 2021 at the earliest and that any flexible working arrangements are agreed between employee and Line Manager. For information, tools and links of many areas of health and wellbeing please click here to visit our My Barratt Benefits website
Together we stay stronger COVID-19 response survey feedback continued The Learning and Development Team are now rolling out an ‘Understanding flexible working’ webinar. Two guides were published to support colleagues, Working from Home Guide and Health and Wellbeing Support Guide, which included details on balancing roles at home, managing your time and parenting from home. Monthly Barratt Connect calls have been set up by our Diversity and Inclusion Managers for employees (see below). Ran ‘Practical homeworking’ calls with Senior Leadership – These were a podcast-type virtual session discussing practical home working tips, with a particular focus on balancing working from home with family distractions. In this session, Senior Leaders from across the business shared their own experiences of juggling work and home life as well as some of the struggles they have dealt with whilst adapting to this new way of working. Other specific comments looked at providing support for depression and bereavement during this period, as well as more holistic options (like meditation and mindfulness). Action we have taken: We have included the CRUSE bereavement helpline on all of our signposting communications including on our health and wellbeing page on Our Place. CRUSE provide professional bereavement support via telephone, email and on their website. We partnered with the Lighthouse Club Charity to provide meditation sessions, and our Learning and Development Team continue to provide a mindfulness practice session each week.
PDR COVID-19 question feedback As you will be aware, this year we added some additional questions as part of the PDR discussions around health, safety, wellbeing and environment. Feedback themes from your responses to these questions is currently being collated across the divisions and GSC for review to help shape policy, process, support and development activity going forward.
Workforce Forum feedback To help us better engage with our employees and get input from colleagues on decisions we make as a business, we launched the Workforce Forum in 2018. The forum, which has nominated colleagues from across the regions and GSC, and represents a cross section of our business, meets three times a year to discuss a range of topics. Since hibernation we have consulted remotely with the Workforce Forum members. Feedback on health and wellbeing was that with offices closed indefinitely it was endorsed that we need to think even more about physical and mental health going forward. This feedback was responded to in all of the subsequent weekly and monthly health and wellbeing communications. In addition a ‘Managing our stress and mental health’ webinar was arranged, access was given to a number of health and wellbeing webinars via the Lighthouse Club Charity and our Learning and Development Team also provided webinars on additional topics. There was also a request for some help for parents within the health and wellbeing communications, covering how do they know they are doing the right thing with home schooling, what help and support is there for parents and much more. Again this was responded to in the health and wellbeing flyers and provided information, support and guidance on childcare, parenting and home schooling. Diversity and Inclusion Managers Jo and Becky also set up ‘Barratt Connect Calls’. It was recognised that people are in different circumstances, but some of those circumstances may have more common challenges so they set up a couple of virtual drop in sessions for two groups. The first, called Connect Parents is for those with children of any age and the second, called Connect Barratt, is for people who are home working and perhaps feeling more isolated. To get involved with either of these groups, click here for further information or if you have any questions or subjects you’d like to raise with the forum, please email workforce.forum@barrattplc.co.uk For information, tools and links of many areas of health and wellbeing please click here to visit our My Barratt Benefits website
Together we stay stronger What have we done this year? This year has been challenging for all of us, experiencing circumstances that we have never known before which have been unprecedented, unpredicted and scary. The health and wellbeing of our employees is now more important than ever and we are committed to supporting our employees through education and promotion of information, support, learning, tools and resources to help achieve positive health and wellbeing. Over the last 12 months we have: Revised our Health and Wellbeing Strategy which includes the extension of mental health support for all of our colleagues. All Line Managers trained via our partner Mates in Mind in ‘Managing the conversation’ sessions (mop ups being planned before Christmas). Health and wellbeing training and support available to all employees on topics such as stress management, budgeting and mindfulness. Enhanced all health and wellbeing communications with weekly newsletters sent during lockdown covering a range of health and wellbeing support topics, including physical, mental, financial and social wellbeing. Refocussed and adapted communications on immediate employee needs for example home schooling, isolation, working from home and returning to site. Reinstated monthly health and wellbeing newsletters from August and these will continue to the end of the year. In conjunction with Group SHE we rolled out health and wellbeing notice boards on all active sites. Established a network of Mental Health First Aider’s with 18 trained Mental Health First Aiders within HR and SHE Teams (Phase 2 to follow). Barratt are an active member of HBF Mental Health Group and continue to share information and best practice across the industry.
What are we doing? We continue to review and develop our health and wellbeing strategy, communications and activity which includes the below: October is Barratt’s health and wellbeing month and throughout the month we’ve shared information, tools and resources on a weekly basis covering the mental, physical, financial and social support available. 2021 communications calendar and themes currently being finalised and all employee communications will start in January 2021. 2021 health and wellbeing awareness scribble pads will be produced for all active site offices, along with a supporting poster. The calendar will also be available on Our Place. Continue to provide access to health and wellbeing training looking at mindfulness, stress management and more internally and through our external partners. Finalising collation of feedback from the additional health and wellbeing COVID-19 questions from the PDR process which will help to shape actions and communications going forward. Continue to request employee feedback to shape health and wellbeing activity going forward. Offer support for cancer carers via Macmillan Cancer Care. Continue to publish our health and wellbeing calendar across Barratt social media channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter & Glassdoor). Continue to regularly promote help and support available to all employees including our EAP providers Unum LifeWorks, Construction Worker Helpline, Construction Industry Helpline & App, Samaritans, CRUSE, Brightsky, Money Advisory Service.
For information, tools and links of many areas of health and wellbeing please click here to visit our My Barratt Benefits website
Together we stay stronger New health and wellbeing page on Our Place We now have a new health and wellbeing page on Our Place which we are currently updating as a ‘go to’ resource for all the support and information provided. Through this page you can access a wealth of information including previous newsletters, the H&WB support guide and WFH guide.
Building mental health charter As part of our commitment to raise mental health awareness, Barratt have joined many other housebuilders and construction industry companies and signed up to the ‘Building Mental Health Charter’ and the charter principles as below: Our company pledges to: – Provide awareness and understanding of the impact of poor mental ill health to our workforce and promote positive mental health through facilitated workshops, with the aims of: » Reducing stigma and discrimination. » Encouraging conversation in the workplace. –
Educate and enable champions from across the workforce to support keeping our people safe.
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Provide access to accredited Mental Health First Aid training and provide assistance to signpost workers to support in their communities.
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Recognise and accept education and training provided by peers and Building Mental Health partners.
Lighthouse club partnership Our partners The Lighthouse Club are the only charity that provides financial and emotional support to the construction community and their families who have suffered an injury or long term illness or simply need a helping hand. Until the end of the year, the Lighthouse Club are running free webinars on a range of health and wellbeing topics such as mindfulness, budgeting and balancing life and work. Click here to view training available.
How to take care of yourself during flu season Seasonal flu (influenza) is an infection caused by a virus that can affect your nose, throat and lungs. People tend to get it around the same time every year. In the UK, people usually get seasonal flu between December and March, although outbreaks can happen as early as October and as late as May. Click here for guidance from Bupa on: When you should seek help from a doctor. Who is eligible for an annual free flu vaccination through the NHS. Where you can have an NHS flu vaccine. How you can reduce the chance of getting flu. The difference between flu and COVID-19. Winter wellbeing self-care tips.
Feedback We encourage and welcome any feedback on the health and wellbeing communications we regularly produce and send out. In addition if you want to hear more on anything please do let us know. Your feedback is important to us and helps shape our approach to health and wellbeing. Please email grouphr@barrattplc.co.uk For information, tools and links of many areas of health and wellbeing please click here to visit our My Barratt Benefits website