Mental health issues can come in many shapes and forms, affecting our lives and work in profound ways, whether we realise it or not. In 2019, the World Health Organisation (WHO) officially classified workplace burnout as an occupational phenomenon. The organisation describes it as the result of chronic workplace stress that has not been effectively managed.
Burnout is bad for both employees and the business, and as with many workplace issues, it is easier to intervene early, before it escalates. That, along with improvements to productivity and overall morale, is why it is in every company’s interest to invest in mental health in the workplace. According to the WHO, investing in improving workplace support will deliver increased productivity and financial benefits.
As a video production company, we believe that tackling workplace stress is a fundamentally important issue, which is why we’re always working on implementing strategies to support our employees’ mental health.
How Definition supports its employees
We have a number of initiatives to increase employee wellbeing, and we’re always looking for ways to improve and expend them. Here are a few of our policies:
An open-door culture and openness about mental health
It can be tough to talk about mental health issues, because they are inherently personal and have historically been stigmatised. However, being able to tell your colleagues when you’re having a tough time can make a huge difference. Our policy of openness is set from the top down. Our CEO, Heather, led by example after she was diagnosed with postnatal depression and struggled to come back to work. She bravely emailed the company to tell us about her situation and in doing this she made the team feel comfortable to share their own challenges.
According to Heather, she was met with an outpouring of understanding and empathy from the Definition team. Many of us have experienced anxiety and depression ourselves, and everybody knows someone close to them who has. Therefore, we all work to create an environment where we can be honest about mental health in the workplace and support each other when we need it.
Flexible working
A 2018 study of more than 3,000 professionals found that 97% of respondents said that flexibility from their employer would have a “huge” or “positive” impact on their quality of life.
At Definition, we encourage flexible working. Employees can work remotely two days a week, and can work flexible hours. We have found that this keeps our employees motivated and increases their level of satisfaction at work, as well as contributing to improved mental health.
Flexible work isn’t just a “nice to have” perk: it’s one of the most significant policies that a company can adopt to support employee wellbeing. It means that employees are able to do more of what they love, whether that’s spending time with their family, pursuing a passion, hitting the gym or just snoozing for a little longer – all of which are key to creating a healthy and happy lifestyle.
We welcome pets
Sitting down to pet a dog brings a unique sense of relief: the dog doesn’t understand deadlines or demanding clients; it’s just happy to see you. And it’s not just us that feel this way: there’s plenty of scientific evidence that being around pets improves mental health. At Definition, we have a wonderful office dog named Devon, and occasional visits from team members’ dogs, like Socks and Milo. According to our regular feedback surveys, bringing in pets is one of the most popular features of the office.
Mental health is an ongoing concern around the world. Most people spend a huge chunk of their lives at work – and for many, work almost becomes a second home. That’s why we believe it is imperative to look after our employees’ mental health and ensure they have the support they need to live a happy and healthy life. Do you like the sound of working for a company with these values? If you do, then feel free to take a look at our careers page to see what opportunities are available.
Written by: Jenna Rosmarin, Comms Executive