LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER IN THE WORKPLACE

“It’s sometimes not what someone says, it’s how they say it.”

We should all look out for each other at work when it comes to mental health, and staff at a North Wales law firm have been sharing tips about how they deal with sometimes quite traumatic experiences in the course of their job.

“There are a lot of people in different legal departments dealing with difficult issues, such as family cases which might involve children, divorce or domestic abuse, and the evidence can be quite harrowing at times,” explains Debbie Humphries, of Lanyon Bowdler’s personal injury team. “Although we’re clearly not on the frontline, like ambulance staff or NHS workers, working with personal injury cases involves a lot of detailed evidence regarding extremely serious injuries, and that can have an impact on people’s mental health. Personal injury cases can be really difficult. We deal with everything from fatal claims and straightforward whiplash claims, to head injury claims, when someone’s life will never be the same again, so that can take its toll on the clients, their families and the lawyer too.

“You often end up becoming almost a part of the family over the course of a claim, which can last years, and it can be quite intense for everyone involved. We are very much a ‘work family’ and look out for each other, particularly when people are dealing with clients who have suffered difficult and challenging injuries.”

Karen Clarke, a colleague of Debbie’s on the personal injury team, says Lanyon Bowdler takes the welfare of its staff very seriously.

“As a firm we are very aware of how our work affects our mental health, and we make sure a range of support is on offer,” she said. “A number of staff are trained mental health first aiders, and we always ask twice. It’s a case of pausing and saying, ‘Are you really ok?’, and it’s sometimes not what someone says, it’s how they say it which will alert you to the fact that something might be wrong. If they are not ok, is there something that we can change in terms of their work environment, or are there difficulties at home which they need support or help with?

“We worked hard during the pandemic, and since moving back to the office, to give people the opportunity to maintain and improve their own mental health. There have been a range of initiatives, such as handing out booklets with local walks to encourage staff to take a break and get some exercise. Some have been more successful than others! An origami project ended up being somewhat too complicated for instance, but it’s all about providing activities to allow people to wind down and take some time for themselves. I think it’s absolutely vital that businesses take the time to encourage their staff to look out for each other, and I’m proud to work for a firm that does just that.” n

Debbie and Karen discuss mental health in the workplace as part of a new series of The Legal Lounge podcast, which can be found on your usual podcast provider or on the Lanyon Bowdler website at www.lblaw.co.uk/podcast