Mutual savings and mortgage provider Bath Building Society supports employees that may be experiencing loneliness through its range of mental health and wellbeing benefits.
The society employs 80 members of staff and values inclusivity and community support. It aims to identify employees that may be experiencing loneliness through managers carrying out regular one-to-one check-ins. Managers do this monthly with all staff regardless of their work location, with video calls allowing remote employees to see and connect with their managers and teams in the workplace.
It also has trained mental health first aiders across the organisation, while its diversity and wellbeing steering group and employee, health and wellbeing forums, actively promote an open culture. This is to ensure employees feel comfortable and encourage them to discuss their mental and emotional wellbeing.
The society has also organised lunch time-walks and mental health awareness days, in which employees have been able to spend time away from their desks, enjoy breakfast with colleagues and make a note of how they feel. It hosts a social event each quarter and a party at Christmas, enabling staff to get out and socialise with each other, particularly those who work more at home.
To support employees experiencing loneliness, the organisation provides initiatives such as access to mental health resources, confidential counselling services, and regular social events, explains Foteini Leventi, head of people at Bath Building Society. “We encourage team-building activities through our community volunteering programme to foster a sense of belonging and community, and we offer two days off each year for staff to participate in this. We have a range of volunteering options available for our staff, from tree planting in Bath and helping pack food parcels at the local food bank, to helping out with our charity partner [homeless charity] Julian House.”
Other team building events have included rugby training with Team Bath, the sport arm of the University of Bath. The society is a partner of Team Bath and supports rugby, netball, tennis and childrens’ activities.
Bath Building Society recognises that its employees work in diverse ways, including hybrid, home-based, flexible hours where appropriate, as well as office-based roles, and tries to combat any feelings of disconnection by inviting staff to attend the office twice a month for a few consecutive days to ensure that they feel part of the team, meet and interact with colleagues face-to-face.
It also aims to regularly promote inclusive communication practices, which includes inclusion in meetings, making sure that all voices are heard, and options to attend online if employees are not on-site.
Leventi believes it is important to support employees that may be experiencing loneliness, and that doing so is crucial for their wellbeing and overall job satisfaction. “Loneliness can impact mental health, productivity and retention. By fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, we enhance employee engagement and organisational resilience,” she adds.
