Global learning organisation Emerald has signed the Time to Change employer pledge, to encourage staff to think and act differently around mental health in the workplace, and to promote open conversations among its 500 employees across 130 countries.
The Time to Change employer pledge, a social movement operated by mental health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, is a public commitment to change how an organisation thinks about mental health in the workplace, and to ensure that staff experiencing mental health problems feel supported. Approximately 1,000 businesses have signed the pledge to date.
Emerald formally signed the Time to Change employer pledge in April 2019 as part of a wider strategy to proactively break down barriers and generate conversations around mental health.
Other actions Emerald has taken in this area include introducing an internal ‘Let’s talk about…’ campaign, where staff share personal stories, running an annual wellbeing week every November, and providing access to support resources, such as mental health first aiders and an employee assistance programme (EAP).
Richard Bevan (pictured), group chairman at Emerald, said: “Creating the right environment to support good mental health and employee wellbeing is core to Emerald, and central to our belief that putting our people first will lead to a happier and more productive workplace.
“Many people are affected by mental health issues to different degrees and over different periods of time; our responsibility is to recognise the positive benefits of diversity, create an environment of inclusivity and offer support and flexible working practices for those who need and will benefit from it.”