It is hard to believe that three years have passed since we started focusing on workplace wellbeing at Stride Treglown. Since then we became the first organisation to be awarded Excellence in all eight areas of the Workplace Wellbeing Charter, a national award for England, and we have seen our engagement levels sore to an all-time high of 83%.
In that time, we have also become an employee owned company, with talented staff choosing to join us because of the culture we have developed, alongside of course, the interesting projects we work on.
If you had asked me three years ago if I could imagine being sat around the board table with the Chairman and a number of staff practicing mindfulness, I would have laughed and said ‘if only’. And yet that is exactly where I found myself this morning.
Today is the first day of Big Wellbeing Week*. A week long programme that aims to inspire employees to achieve a healthier lifestyle and be a part of a more sustainable city.
Each day has a broad theme covering all the bases of workplace wellbeing. We have then chosen appropriate activities for staff and managers based on that theme. Wednesday, for example, is ‘Well Culture Day’ where we are holding round table discussions with both staff and managers about positive management practices, what they are and how we use them day to day (click on the full schedule below).
We have found that keeping the wellbeing momentum going throughout the year has been a challenge. Holding a week dedicated to wellbeing has helped focus the mind and encouraged us to raise the bar even higher.
Who knows how our first Big Wellbeing Week will turn out? One thing is for sure, we will all have a laugh taking part and laughter is a strong medicine for the mind. I am now off to attend Joe’s fun lunchtime boot camp (did I just mention fun and boot camp in the same sentence?). This is one I hope we don’t take photos of!
Happy Wellbeing Week all.
*Big Wellbeing Week is an initiative sponsored by Stride Treglown and developed in partnership with Nine to Thrive and Go Green.
