Law firms DAC Beachcroft and Dentons, financial organisation Nationwide Building Society and transport business Network Rail are among the 17 employers that have signed the Mindful Business Charter (MBC) in October 2019.
The MBC was established in October 2018 by law firms Addleshaw Goddard and Pinsent Masons, alongside financial organisation Barclays. The charter aims to change working practices that can affect mental wellbeing by following a set of four principles that centre around improved communication, respect for rest periods and the considerate delegation of tasks.
The four principles are openness and respect, smart meetings and mailings, respecting rest periods and mindful delegation.
Employers that sign the MBC commit to promote a culture of openness about mental wellbeing, ensure responsible business is included as an area of assessment during significant procurement processes, and drive forward actions and necessary change in support of the charter’s principles. Organisations also pledge to eradicate unnecessary causes of workplace stress and pressure.
Signatories of the MBC when it began last October included Lloyds Banking Group, Natwest, Ashurst, Baker McKenzie, Clifford Chance, Eversheds Sutherland, Hogan Lovells, Norton Rose Fulbright and Simmons and Simmons.
A total of 17 organisations have now signed the charter in conjunction with World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10 October 2019. New signatories include Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP), Burness Paull, Coats, Coventry Building Society, Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW), Irwin Mitchell, Morton Fraser, Paul Hastings, Radiant Law, Reynolds Porter Chamberlain (RPC), Squire Patton Boggs and TLT.
Richard Foley (pictured), senior partner at Pinsent Masons, said: “For too long, professionals across many industries have just accepted pressure and stress as part and parcel of the job. The charter challenges that.
“Those signed up to the charter are making real strides in changing attitudes and in reducing the avoidable working practices that can negatively impact the health and wellbeing of our communities.
"This is not a short-term initiative; it is owned by our people and this is how we will ensure long-term and sustainable change. As mental health becomes more and more prevalent on corporate agendas, we’re looking forward to the continued expansion of the charter."
