Global digital agency organisation Wunderman UK has launched a new wellbeing programme for its 400 London-based staff, which includes the completion of an on-site wellness studio.
The new programme, called Well Beings, was launched on 2 January 2018 to help staff own and take control of their wellbeing-related goals, as well as to set a high standard for health management within the business. The wellbeing programme will additionally help the organisation to future-proof its existing teams by supporting staff to maintain their health.
Well Beings features a range of events and activities that are tailored to support employees’ mental, physical and spiritual health. It includes a running club, meditation sessions, martial arts classes, nutrition support, mental health first aid sessions, reflexology and yoga, massages, and business coaching talks to name a few. The calendar of events will also include alternative health remedies, such as forest bathing.
As part of the new programme, managers will also have the remit to identify employees within their team who may be under particular pressure and suggest Well Beings activities that might help.
To support the launch of Well Beings, Wunderman UK has built an on-site wellness studio at its London head office. Designed with a vintage glamour theme, the studio includes equipment such as ballet barres and punch bags. Additionally, the organisation will be launching a corresponding app in summer 2018 to better guide staff through the year’s wellbeing schedule.
The Well Beings programme and the design of the wellness studio were created taking into account feedback obtained via staff surveys that were completed over the course of 2017. This was to ensure that Wunderman UK employees were achieving the work-life balance that they desired.
The wellbeing programme was launched to staff using a visual campaign involving plasticine. Each employee received a tub of plasticine so they could craft their own version of wellbeing or their wellbeing goals in a physical shape or format. The campaign was also shared via the organisation's social media channels, such as Twitter.
Pip Hulbert (pictured), chief executive officer at Wunderman UK, said: “We have put an understanding of how it feels to work at Wunderman at the centre of all our talent and cultural plans going forwards. Building our own studio is a massive step for us and shows how seriously we are taking the health and wellbeing of our staff, offering fun and inspiring activities that fit easily into the working day.
“I definitely believe we now offer one of the best wellbeing initiatives in our industry. Classes will be designed to support people in the face of specific stresses that can arise in the workplace and help staff discover what wellbeing really means to them as individuals. We want to signal to everyone that they have ‘permission’ to take time out and that wellbeing is seen as a priority by the business.”
