In a sector where the issue of mental ill health is widely reported, the pandemic and cost of living crisis have presented further challenges to our colleagues, customers, supply chain and communities in which we work.
Last year we launched our new Health and Wellbeing Strategy to help elevate our colleagues’ mental health and support them in some of the difficulties they might be facing.
In this article, Sam Scard, health and wellbeing manager at Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, describes how we have refocused our approach to looking after our colleagues’ health and wellbeing and how we have prioritised mental health, dedicating time and resources to foster a supportive and inclusive working culture by having open conversations and looking out for each other.
Sam Scard, health and wellbeing manager at Morgan Sindall Infrastructure
“We regularly check in and listen to our colleagues in a variety of ways, including our quarterly surveys, which help us build a picture of how they are feeling”
Improving the health and wellbeing of our people
People working in the UK construction industry are three times more likely to take their own lives than those in any other sector. With mental health conditions becoming more common, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure is committed to creating a thriving workplace where everyone feels supported, healthy and happy.
“We regularly check in and listen to our colleagues in a variety of ways, including our quarterly surveys, which help us build a picture of how they are feeling”, explains Sam.
“In our most recent survey, 94% of our colleagues told us that being safe and healthy is taken seriously within their area of the business. We also want to hear about the issues that are important to them and based on this feedback we have refocused our Health and Wellbeing Strategy around four key areas: Physical, Mental, Social and Financial. Although separate, all areas form part of a person’s whole wellbeing so they are all interlinked in some way.”
All colleagues at Morgan Sindall Infrastructure have access to a wealth of resources that provide advice and support including tools such as online mental health training courses and trained counsellors who are available 24/7 through our Employee Assistance Programme.
We also have a network of Mental Health First Aiders, trained by Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England, who can offer support and guidance to anyone facing a mental health issue. To complement this, we have three MHFA England trainers who can provide in-house training ensuring our Mental Health First Aiders’ skills and training are consistent and up to date.
The four elements of Morgan Sindall Infrastructure's health and wellbeing strategy: Physical, Mental, Social and Financial
Our Nuclear health and wellbeing team are currently trialling a new approach by looking at the types of issues their Mental Health First Aiders are supporting their colleagues with, so they can identify any trends which will enable them to focus their resources on a specific area.
The role of leadership is recognised as an important factor in helping to create a supportive working environment too. Sam explains: “Line managers, given their position within an organisation, are often best placed to spot the signs of poor mental health and if equipped with the right skill set – can manage issues effectively before they reach crisis point. We provide all our line managers with training and guidance on how to help colleagues who may be experiencing mental ill health.”
Prevention is better than cure
Part of the refocus of our Health and Wellbeing Strategy has been a shift toward a more proactive approach than reactive by encouraging colleagues to invest the same amount of time and resources into maintaining their mental health as they do with their physical health.
Sam explains: “One way of the ways we are supporting this is by offering all colleagues the opportunity to take part in a personal resilience workshop which focuses on improving psychological health by taking steps to look after yourself to prevent burn-out, stress, and other common mental health issues.
“We also encourage our colleagues to participate in activities that will raise awareness of mental health issues and elevate their own health and wellbeing, this includes a rolling calendar of campaigns and social events held across the year.”
“We want people to feel comfortable talking about their mental health and actively taking steps to protect it, just like they do with their physical health.”
Normalising the conversation around mental health
Over the years, the construction industry has worked hard to break down the stigma around mental health, yet Sam recognises that changing the way people feel about and perceive issues around mental health is a slow and steady process. “There’s still work to do, and we need to continue to invest in the tools that enable everyone to feel happy and safe at work.
“We want people to feel comfortable talking about their mental health and actively taking steps to protect it, just like they do with their physical health.”