30th April 2024

Prioritizing Mental Health at Work: How we do it at Adaptive

Our emphasis on respect and collaboration is more than just a reflection of our values. Still, it is deeply intertwined with our commitment to safeguarding our staff’s mental health at work. By fostering a workplace where individuals are respected, heard, and supported collaboratively, we maintain an environment that prioritizes well-being and facilitates the personal and professional growth of every member of the Adaptive team.

We understand that while a certain degree of pressure can be a positive and motivating factor at work, long-term or excessive stress can negatively impact our performance and well-being. If left unrecognised or untreated, stress can result in mental and physical illness. Recognising this and the impact of other daily struggles such as burnout, depression, or any personal problems, we have implemented a variety of supportive measures to ensure the wellbeing of our staff.

Keep reading to find out more about stress and our approach to it!

Creating a Supportive Environment for Mental Health at Work

We are committed to maintaining an environment where all staff can openly discuss mental and emotional issues without fear of victimisation or disregard. We champion workplace well-being, recognising it as both a fundamental aspect of effective leadership and a wise business strategy. We work alongside staff to decide on practical improvements that can be made. Let’s delve into the topic of stress.

Recognising Symptoms of Stress

Stress can manifest in various ways, including behavioural, physical, mental, and emotional symptoms.

Behavioural symptoms may include changes in sleep or eating habits, increased smoking or drinking, or avoiding friends and family.
Physical symptoms can include tiredness, indigestion, headaches, aching muscles, or grinding teeth in sleep.
Mental symptoms may involve indecisiveness, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, feelings of inadequacy, or low self-esteem.
Emotional symptoms can include irritability, anxiety, numbness, hypersensitivity, or feeling drained and listless.

We are dedicated to ensuring that every person understands that their well-being is vitally important to us. As a result, we have specific procedures and safeguards in place to prevent, address, and minimise stress.

Our Approach to Managing Stress at Work

Firstly, our leaders are expected to ensure that all reasonable and practical steps are taken to avoid workplace-related stress disorders, for instance:

Monitoring workloads and holidays to ensure that staff are not overloaded and are taking their full entitlement.
Encouraging colleagues to step away from their screens, to take time out to catch up for a coffee or lunch.
Encouraging openness, honesty, and respect within teams and dealing sensitively with people struggling to cope with their work due to stress.

Secondly, we have also trained some of our staff as Mental Health First Aiders so they can quickly spot the signs of potential issues. Our Mental Health First Aiders, including Marie Downes, Beau Taylor, Gwen Kane, Estefania Ricart Arnaiz, Yaron Kessel, David Richman, and Sandrine Hideux, offer confidential support and advice to staff suffering from poor mental health, regardless of whether the issue is home or work-related.

Lastly, all our offices have an employee assistance programme, including phone-based and/or in-person counselling. This service is confidential and free for our staff to use.

Why does Mental Health at work matter?

In essence, a culture centered around respect and collaboration inherently promotes positive mental health at work. By nurturing an atmosphere where everyone is acknowledged, valued, and listened to, we create a space where team members feel supported and understood. This culture of respect extends to recognizing individuals’ diverse challenges, including stress, burnout, depression, or personal problems. Our commitment to open communication and empathy, integral components of our respect-driven approach, allows us to address these challenges proactively.

Moreover, collaboration plays a pivotal role in mitigating the impact of mental health stressors. Working together as a cohesive team not only distributes the workload but also provides a network of support. In a collaborative environment, team members can share experiences, offer assistance, and collectively find solutions to challenges. This shared sense of responsibility and interconnectedness helps create a resilient team.

At Adaptive, we are committed to doing whatever is reasonably practicable to support our staff in dealing with stress. We believe that by prioritising mental health, we can create a healthier, happier, and more productive workplace.

In your opinion, how can we further improve addressing mental health at work concerns? What processes and initiatives have proven to be the most effective in your companies, or what improvements would you like to see as employees? Join the conversation on LinkedIn!