By Gifty FORDWUO
The average Ghanaian worker spends roughly 2,000 hours at work each year. Factor in the often-gruelling commute through our busy and traffic-packed streets, and that figure represents a significant portion of our lives. This directly affects our wellbeing.
A lot is said in recent times about the correlation between wellbeing and productivity in our personal and professional lives. Indeed, a content and healthy workforce is not just a happy coincidence, but the cornerstone of any thriving business, irrespective of sector, size, or location.
To get the best results, this belief needs to be deeply embedded in the company culture, woven into the fabric of human resource policies and initiatives, and championed from the highest echelons of company leadership.
The corporate approach to wellbeing
At Standard Chartered, we recognise this fundamental truth, one that informs how intentional we are about our people. This led us to taking steps to prioritise our staff’s needs.
In 2021 we implemented our flexi-working arrangement, where colleagues are able to combine flexibility in work patterns and locations. This is to support our future sustainability and help us motivate and retain diverse talent, build resilience, improve productivity, and support individual wellbeing. Majority of our colleagues have signed on and enjoy the option of coming into the office or working from home. Productivity has remained high while employees have also seen positive impact on their overall wellbeing.
Additionally, we implemented parental leave of 20 weeks for all employees irrespective of gender, relationship status, or how a child comes to permanently join an employee’s family. The enhanced benefits have been designed to support working parents, proving to be beneficial for parents and children alike.
Further, we have expanded our comprehensive medical coverage for employees to include menopause and mental health support. Thus, we ensure that the total being is taken care of.
Prioritising support for staff
This is just a selection of benefits that have been rolled out. We’ve introduced wellbeing resources and health-oriented tools available at employees’ convenience. We offer colleagues access to a mental health app, a physical wellbeing online platform, an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), wellbeing toolkits, learning programmes on resilience, as well as an expanding network of trained Mental Health First Aiders.
Unmind is a mental health app that combines technology with mind science. The app’s library of audio and video tools provides “in-the-moment help” to ease tension, find focus, or even get a good night’s sleep.
Our global wellbeing training programme, delivered by expert clinical psychologists at Cognacity, equips employees with practical tools to build resilience and manage stress. The programme includes interactive workshops and personalised 21-day challenges focused on making small but impactful changes for sustainable high performance.
Everyone needs support from time to time. Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in partnership with Compsych is available every hour of every day. This confidential and free counselling and guidance service was recently expanded to support the emotional and psychological health of employees. The service offers targeted sessions addressing various employee needs, including:
- Preventing employee burnout by helping colleagues recognise the causes and early signs of burnout, enabling effective management or prevention of burnout altogether.
- Dealing with difficult people, focusing on identifying complex behaviours and providing strategies and coping mechanisms for effective relationship management.
- Conflict resolution capability building through equipping colleagues with skills and techniques to navigate conflicting situations, reconcile emotions, and foster understanding.
Trained Mental First Aiders are also available to provide support to colleagues in urgent need to speak to someone and later direct them to the appropriate professional support.
We have a well-resourced zen room at our Headoffice, where colleagues can unplug during work hours and isolate themselves for a few minutes to recharge.
Our commitment to wellbeing
This year, we set aside a whole month to focus on employee wellbeing. That’s how October became our dedicated Wellness Month and will be for the foreseeable future. Through a wide range of activities, we engaged employees on multiple levels, reminding them that their health, safety, and resilience is a priority to the Organisation.
Our schedule catered to physical and mental health with every week having its unique colour to serve as a visual reminder of the week’s focus. This included:
- Yoga, Aerobics, and Run: Recognising the powerful link between physical activity and mental clarity, we organised a string of activities to de-stress and rejuvenate. Endurance enthusiasts also took part in a month-long SCBGH October Wellbeing Run Challenge, encouraging friendly competition as employees worked their way to be crowned the 2024 Fitness Champion in a 30km run challenge over 30 days.
- Spa Day: In order to bring the work on employees’ physical wellbeing to a good close, we brought them a relaxing two-day mini spa experience with brief massages, relaxation treatments, and more to release tension.
- Wellness Sessions: Wellness extends beyond physical health. That’s why we made space to address the mental and emotional aspects of our wellbeing. Through our in-house radio station, DoHA FM, experts shared invaluable tips on stress management, work-life balance, and overall wellbeing.
Better together
At Standard Chartered, we are committed to and have invested heavily in our employees’ wellbeing. Wellbeing at work is at the core of employee engagement and productivity. We want our people to be able to bring their best selves to work and deliver sustainable high performance. We urge other organisations across Ghana to join us in prioritising employee wellbeing. How about a wellness month of your own? By fostering a culture of health and happiness within our workplaces, we contribute to a more productive, engaged, and prosperous nation.
